RECYCLED PLASTICS IN IT- PRODUCTS WEBINAR JUNE 18,

Transcription

1 RECYCLED PLASTICS IN IT- PRODUCTS WEBINAR JUNE 18, 2014

2 Plastic in IT products challenges and opportunities The problem with plastics Plastic in IT extensive sustainability challenges Benefits of using recycled plastic Who are we? Short info on TCO Development, TCO Certified and TCO Certified Edge

3 What is the problem with plastics? 1. Production Traditionally made from non-renewable sources Contributes to global warming and pollution Energy and resource consuming to produce

4 What is the problem with plastics? (cont.) Rate of Recycling (%) 2. Lack of plastics recycling ~10% of high grade plastic is recycled Why? Different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated and re-used Different types of plastic are more difficult to separate and tell apart (compare to metals) People are not used to recycling plastics Proper recycling systems lacking Glass Steel Aluminium High Value Plastics

5 What is the problem with plastics? (cont.) 3. Lack of knowledge About hazardous substance content Flame retardants, plasticizers, only some are banned About material/substance hazard What effects do these additives have on humans and the environment? Problematic in use phase as well as at end-of-life?

6 What is the problem with plastics? (cont.) 4. Need for controlled recycling infrastructure Complex due to the vast number of plastic types and additives Important that harmful chemicals are not recirculated Verification of content and properties of the recycled material is critical

7 Plastics in IT a sustainability challenge 1. E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world today ~ 50 million tons of e-waste generated globally every year 2. Recycling rates are low, but improving, especially in the EU In total ~13% is recycled responsibly globally A lot is exported to developing countries 3. Hazardous, complex and expensive to treat in an environmentally sound manner 4. Informal recycling leading to large health and environmental effects The health of informal recyclers Toxic chemicals from e-waste risk entering the "soil-crop-food pathway"

8 Plastics in IT a sustainability challenge (cont.) 5. Not only a challenge at end-of-life. Additives in plastic causes health and environmental effects throughout the life cycle 6. Complex supply chain means even less information on for ex chemical content

9 Benefits of using recycled plastic Use up to 80 percent less energy than producing plastics from virgin materials Every ton of recycled plastic produced result in up to 1-3 tons of CO2 savings compared to virgin plastics Less raw (fossile) materials required Less materials entering the waste stream Lower environmental risk and pollution in whole life cycle

10 What can you as buyer can do Customer demands main driver for producers Harmonized demands can have larger impacts and by demanding TCO Certified we can push industry together Make sure the products are handled responsibly If possible prolong the life of old products by reuse

11 TCO Development Started in 1990s solving office worker health- and safety concerns connected to use of computer displays Owned by TCO, Swedish confederation for professional employees, a trade union and non-profit organization based in Stockholm, Sweden. Our goal is to facilitate the shift towards more sustainable IT-products Global perspective with focus on professional IT-products in Europe, North America and Asia Sustainability certification for IT products, TCO Certified, with requirements in three main areas: Socially responsible manufacturing Environmental aspects from a life cycle perspective Health- and safety and ergonomics Used by professional IT purchasers around the world and widespread IT industry adoption Multi-stakeholder criteria development process Certification based on established methods for third party testing and verification

12 TCO Certified for IT-products: life cycle perspective and sustainable development Take-back system in one country lacking legislation Prepared for recycling, no hazardous substances etc Environmental critiera for packaging Prolong life length through quality, spare parts etc Product design: low/no hazardous substances, prepared for recycling, energy efficient etc Environmental management system Working conditions in supply chain Visual ergonomics, health/safety aspects, energy efficient

13 TCO Certified Edge Add-on certification for leading edge TCO Certified products Purpose to drive the development towards more sustainable ITproducts, ~10-30% of products on the market can fulfil criterion Product must meet at least one TCO Certified Edge criterion: Contain a minimum 85 % post consumer recycled plastic (PCC) Free from halogenated substances (such as brominated and chlorinated flame retardants) Full Function Ergonomic display stand Provide excellent outdoor readability (notebooks) Provide excellent acoustic performance (headsets)

14 The Criterion for TCO Certified Edge Displays PCC 2014: 18 display models from Lenovo with TCO Certified Edge PCC criterion certified today

15 Thank you for your attention Questions?