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Electronics Industry Launches Initiative to Identify "Green" Products

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Sustainability Consortium, in collaboration with major manufacturers and retailers, has announced a project to develop a system for assessing the environmental and social impacts of electronic products. This initiative aims to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions by providing a standardized, industry-wide methodology for evaluating the sustainability of electronic products. The consortium will consider the lifecycle impacts of electronics on workers, consumers, and the environment, as well as explore collaborations with existing standards such as EPEAT and ENERGY STAR.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sustainability Consortium, co-administered by Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas, will research and publish findings on the environmental and social impacts of electronic products.
  • The project involves collaboration with Best Buy, Dell, HP, Intel, Toshiba, and Walmart to develop a system for assessing the sustainability of electronic products.
  • The consortium will consider the impacts of electronics on workers, consumers, and the environment throughout their lifecycle, including production, use, and disposal.
  • The initiative aims to provide consumers with a standardized, industry-wide methodology for evaluating the sustainability of electronic products.
  • The consortium plans to release initial results in the third quarter of 2010, with a focus on criteria for laptops, desktops, and monitors.
  • Participating manufacturers will be able to use the system to make clear and pointed product sustainability claims, promoting consistency, transparency, and simplicity in communicating sustainability.

Statistics:

  • The Sustainability Consortium will collaborate with at least six major manufacturers and retailers, including Best Buy, Dell, HP, Intel, Toshiba, and Walmart.
  • The consortium plans to release initial results in the third quarter of 2010.
  • The project is focused on developing criteria for laptops, desktops, and monitors, with plans to expand to a broader set of electronic goods later in the year.

Sources:

  • Sustainability Consortium
  • Arizona State University
  • University of Arkansas

"Customers tell us they want to purchase electronics that have a minimal impact on our planet. This is an effort to help them do that using a common methodology that manufacturers across the industry participate in," said Scott O'Connell, environmental strategist, Dell. (Source: [Quote attributed to Scott O'Connell, Dell])

"...reaching uniformity in communicating sustainability claims will be a decision made in the name of consistency, transparency, and simplicity and will benefit all involved," said Engelina Jaspers, vice president of environmental sustainability, HP. (Source: [Quote attributed to Engelina Jaspers, HP])

"Best Buy recognizes that we have an obligation to provide customers with products and solutions that help them move toward an increasingly sustainable future," said Mary Capozzi, senior director of corporate responsibility, Best Buy. (Source: [Quote attributed to Mary Capozzi, Best Buy])

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