User's Manual

Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
In many countries, environmental labelling has become an established method for encouraging the adaptation of
goods and services to the environment. The main problem, as far as computers and other electronics equipment
are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are used both in the products and during their
manufacture. Since it is not so far possible to satisfactorily recycle the majority of electronics equipment, most of
these potentially damaging substances sooner or later enter nature.
There are also other characteristics of a computer, such as energy consumption levels, that are important from the
viewpoints of both the work (internal) and natural (external) environments.
Since all methods of electricity generation have a negative effect on the environment (e.g. acidic and climate-
influencing emissions, radioactive waste), it is vital to save energy. Electronics equipment in offices is often left
running continuously and thereby consumes a lot of energy.
What does labelling involve?
The environmental demands has been developed by Svenska Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for
Nature Conservation). These demands impose restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated
and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs(freons)and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must be
prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental policy which must be adhered to in
each country where the company implements its operational policy.
The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, after a certain period of inactivity,
shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The length of time to reactivate the
computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.
The complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: [phone]
Email (Internet): [e-mail]
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained via
the Internet, using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/
Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their purpose is to
prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame
retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically
related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chloride
and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating
birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found in human blood
and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not contain
flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed circuit
boards since no substitutes are available.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer displays.
Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that
batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens and the electrical or electronics components must not
contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages the nervous system and is toxic in high
doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any mercury. It also demands that
mercury is not present in any of the electrical or electronics components associated with the labelled unit. There is
however one exception. Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel monitors as
today there is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing this exception when a Mercury free
alternative is available.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and
assembly of the product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards. CFCs break down
ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet
light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer (malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system
and in higher doses, causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO'99 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no
replacement has yet been developed.
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