IEEE 1680 Sustainability Standards for Electronics
The market for more environmentally-friendly electronics and appliances is growing due to consumer preference, energy regulations and corporate sustainability practices.
IEEE 1680 is the umbrella sustainability standard for the environmental assessment of electronic products, and UL Environment is proud to certify computers, printer/copiers and televisions to product-specific version of these standards.
For manufacturers pursuing EPEAT® registration, UL Environment can offer a full scope of services including readiness assessment, testing and certification to the IEEE suite of standards. UL Environment is one of only four organizations in the world selected as a Product Registration Entity (or PRE), for EPEAT. As a PRE, UL Environment assists manufacturers with registering their products to the central EPEAT registry.
Standards Overview
IEEE 1680.1
IEEE 1680.1 is a product specific standard for environmental assessment of personal computer products, including notebook personal computers, desktop personal computers and personal computer displays, such as monitors.
It is a tiered standard with 28 possible points divided into the following eight categories:
- Reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials – 8 points
- Materials selection – 3 points
- Design for end of life – 5 points
- Product longevity/life cycle extension – 2 points
- Energy conservation – 3 points
- End-of-life management – 1 point
- Corporate performance – 2 points
- Packaging – 4 points
Certification is awarded when 22 mandatory criteria are satisfied and the required amount of optional points is achieved. There are three levels of certification and their points requirements are:
- Bronze – Satisfy all required criteria
- Silver – All required criteria and minimum of 50% of available optional criteria points
- Gold – All required criteria and minimum of 75% of available optional criteria points
IEEE 1680.2
IEEE 1680.2 is a product specific standard for environmental assessment of imaging equipment, including copiers, digital duplicators, facsimile machines, multifunction devices, printers and mailing machines and scanners. The official standard will be published in October 2012 and UL Environment can complete pre-assessment to standard now, certifying products once the official standard is released.
IEEE 1680.2 is a tiered standard and is divided into 10 categories:
- Reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials
- Materials selection
- Design for end of life
- Product longevity/life cycle extension
- Energy conservation
- End-of-life management
- Corporate performance
- Packaging
- Consumables
- Indoor air quality
Certification awarded when mandatory criteria are satisfied and the required amount of optional points are achieved.
- Bronze – Satisfy all required criteria
- Silver – All required criteria and minimum of 50% of available optional criteria points
- Gold – All required criteria and minimum of 75% of available optional criteria points
IEEE 1680.3
IEEE 1680.3 is a product specific standard for environmental assessment of televisions, including televisions, television combination units and component television units. The official standard will be published in October 2012 and UL Environment can complete pre-assessment to standard now, certifying products once the official standard is released.
IEEE 1680.3 is a tiered standard and is divided into 8 categories:
- Environmentally sensitive materials
- Materials selection
- Design for end of life
- Product longevity/life cycle extension
- Energy conservation
- End-of-life management
- Corporate performance
- Packaging
Certification is awarded when mandatory criteria are satisfied and the required amount of optional points is achieved.
- Bronze – Satisfy all required criteria
- Silver – All required criteria and minimum of 50% of available optional criteria points
- Gold – All required criteria and minimum of 75% of available optional criteria points
