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EPEAT
In brief
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) is an international ecolabel for IT and electronics products, administered by the Global Electronics Council. It rates devices such as laptops, monitors, smartphones and servers against criteria such as energy consumption, materials, longevity and take-back, and awards the tiers Bronze, Silver or Gold. For purchasing, EPEAT is a tool for selecting more sustainable devices.
How EPEAT rates
Manufacturers register their products in the EPEAT registry and demonstrate which criteria they meet. Independent bodies verify the information. The tier depends on how many criteria a product meets:
| Level | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bronze | All required criteria met |
| Silver | Required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria |
| Gold | Required criteria plus at least 75% of the optional criteria |
Covered are, among others, computers and displays, imaging equipment such as printers, mobile phones, servers and televisions. The additional designation "Climate+" highlights products with special climate criteria.
EPEAT in IT procurement
EPEAT is used in tenders as evidence of environmental criteria, similar to TCO Certified. However, a label says nothing about how long a device is actually used. The greatest lever is often the useful life: use devices longer and then pass them on refurbished. Both belong in a sustainable IT procurement. Second IT refurbishes retired devices and gives them a second life; what can no longer be used is properly recovered. More perspectives are offered by the article Sustainable IT: The Future of Environment and Technology.
Frequently asked questions about EPEAT
Who awards EPEAT?
EPEAT is administered by the Global Electronics Council, a non-profit organization. Manufacturers' information is verified by independent bodies.
What does EPEAT Gold mean?
A product with EPEAT Gold meets all required criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria. It is the highest of the three tiers.
Does EPEAT also apply to used devices?
The label is awarded to models at their market launch. Whether a used device belongs to a registered model can be looked up in the public EPEAT registry.
Which devices does EPEAT rate?
Covered are, among others, computers and displays, imaging equipment such as printers, mobile phones, servers and televisions. Criteria such as energy consumption, materials, longevity and take-back are rated. The additional designation "Climate+" highlights special climate criteria.
Is an EPEAT label enough for sustainable IT procurement?
Not on its own. A label says nothing about how long a device is actually used. The greatest lever is often the useful life: use devices longer and then pass them on refurbished. Both belong in sustainable IT procurement.
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