Greentech Lead America: EPEAT, the definitive global registry for greener electronics, has expanded the green rating system to include printers, copiers and other imaging equipment.
The expansion was heralded by Congressional leaders, environmental groups, leading manufacturers and institutional purchasers at an event today in Washington, D.C.
The EPEAT registry currently includes imaging equipment from seven manufacturers: Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, Lexmark, Ricoh and Xerox. Two additional manufacturers – Konica Minolta and Samsung – have begun the process of registering products with EPEAT. Combined, these nine manufacturers represent at least 80 percent of the global market for copiers, printers, scanners and multifunction devices. Devices will be continually added to the registry as they are deemed compliant with EPEAT’s environmental requirements.
To be added to the EPEAT registry, an imaging device must meet at least 33 required environmental performance criteria. Products may achieve higher ratings by meeting up to 26 additional optional criteria. The rating criteria were developed during a four-year stakeholder consensus process that involved hundreds of representatives from the environmental, research, governmental and manufacturing sectors.
“World markets will now be able to easily and reliably identify and purchase greener printers, copiers and scanners based on EPEAT ratings,” said Robert Frisbee, EPEAT CEO. “I applaud the leadership of everyone involved with achieving this important milestone.”
“The federal government is leading by example by embracing EPEAT standards for greener electronics, and I’m eager to see the positive impact of the expanded EPEAT registry,” said U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer. “EPEAT’s success shows that an incentive-based approach can move markets and that diverse stakeholders working together can be true catalysts for change.”
“EPEAT’s environmental impact standards serve a valuable role in the marketplace,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, incoming Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “I commend those manufacturers that meet EPEAT’s stringent environmental ratings, and I’m proud to say that EPEAT calls Oregon home.”
EPEAT’s original PC/Display rating system is used as an environmental requirement by eight national governments, including the United States, and thousands of purchasers worldwide. Purchase contracts that require EPEAT registration exceed $65 billion.
More than 50 manufacturers have registered their greener PCs, monitors, copiers, printers and scanners in more than 40 countries. More than 533 million EPEAT-registered products have been purchased since the original registry debuted in July 2006.