You have just purchased a TCO’99 approved and labeled product! Your choice has provided
you with a product developed for professional use. Your purchase has also contributed
to reducing the burden on the environment and also to the further development of
environmentally adapted electronics products.
Why do we have environmentally labeled computers?
In many countries, environmental labeling has become an established method for encouraging
the adaptation of goods and services to the environment. With the growing manufacture and
usage of electronic equipment throughout the world, there is a recognized concern for the
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materials and substances used by electronic products with regards to their eventual recycling
and disposal. By proper selection of these materials and substances, the impact on the
environment can be minimized.
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.
Electronic equipment in offices is often left running continuously, resulting in unnecessary
consumption of large amounts of energy and additional power generation. From the standpoint
of carbon dioxide emissions alone, it is vital to save energy.
What does labeling involve?
The product meets the requirements for the TCO’99 scheme which provides for international
and environmental labeling of personal computers and/or displays. The labeling scheme
was developed as a joint effort by the TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional
Employees), Svenska Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation)
and Statens Energimyndighet (The Swedish National Energy Administration).
Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues: ecology, ergonomics, emission of
electrical and magnetically fields, energy consumption and electrical safety.
Ecological criteria impose restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominates
and chlorinated flame retardants, and other substances. The product must be prepared for
recycling and the manufacturing site(s) shall be certified according to ISO14001 or EMAS
registered.
Energy requirements include a demand that the system unit 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 system unit shall be reasonable for the user.
Labeled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the
reduction of electrical and magnetically fields as well as work load and visual ergonomics.
* This declaration is for TCO’99 compliance model.
ViewSonic N1900w
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Below you will find a brief summary of the ecological requirements met by this product. The
complete ecological criteria document can be found at TCO Development’s website http://
www.tcodevelopment. com or may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
E-mail: development@tco.se
Information regarding TCOí99 approved and labeled products may also be obtained at
http://www.tcodevelopment.com
Ecological requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants may be present in printed wiring board laminates, cables, and housings.
Their purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% by weight of the
plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Many flame retardants
contain bromine or chlorine, and these flame retardants are chemically related to PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyls). Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chlorine and the
PCBs are suspected of giving rise to health effects, including reproductive damage in fisheating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes when not disposed of in
accordance with strict standards for disposal.
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TCO’99 requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams shall not contain
flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in
the printed wiring board laminates due to the lack of commercially available alternatives.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain
computer displays. TCO’99 requires that batteries, the color-generating layers of display
screens, and the electrical or electronics components shall not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. TCO’99 requires that batteries
shall not contain any mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any of the electrical
or electronics components associated with the labeled unit. There is however one exception.
Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel monitors as
there today is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing this exception
when a mercury free alternative is available.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. TCO’99
permits the use of lead due to the lack of commercially available alternatives, but in future
requirements TCO Development aims at restricting the use of lead.
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* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate in living organisms.
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are bio-accumulative.