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Ecodesign


The Ecodesign cluster deals with 6 main topics:

1. EU Energy Star Programme


The EU Energy Star programme aims to improve the energy efficiency of information technology office equipment by awarding the EU Energy Star® label to products which fulfill certain energy efficiency requirements. The programme was initiated in the US but is now worldwide. DIGITALEUROPE has supported this programme and the European partnership from the very beginning and continues to work to ensure its successful implementation. All of DIGITALEUROPE's members companies, supplying products within the scope of EU Energy Star® programme are encouraged to participate.  The website can be found at http://www.eu-energystar.org 
 

2. Energy Information Disclosure and Energy Labelling 


DIGITALEUROPE works with ICT companies to share information and create common industry views in regards to Energy Information Disclosure and focuses on the development of reliable international standards and tailored to product-specific features, that avoid a one-size-fit-all solution.
There is general consensus in the market that product energy information should be available to consumers at the point of sale or on-line so that they could compare product energy efficiency before product purchasing.

DIGITALEUROPE supports Energy Information Disclosure in principle, but calls for an approach based on reliable international standards and tailored to product-specific features, avoiding a one-size-fit-all solution.

The EU Energy Labeling Directive, whose scope is now expanded to televisions, is an important tool for energy information disclosure.
DIGITALEUROPE welcomes that Member States support an EU-wide, language-neutral energy labeling proposed by industry, and members are pleased to see the introduction of an open-ended energy labeling, which keeps the basics of the current A-G energy labeling format, but allows manufacturers to use super A classes (A-20%, A-40%, etc). DIGTALEUROPE believes that open-ended labeling will result in faster innovation in terms of product energy efficiency.

Since A-G energy labeling is not the only tool for energy information disclosure, however, DIGITALEUROPE will keep looking for other innovative solutions for product groups for which the energy labeling approach is not suitable. 

3. EuP


DIGITALEUROPE is committed to accelerateing the move towards improving the environmental performance of our technologies. 
 
The Directive will be able to enact implementing measures on specific products and environmental aspects (such as energy consumption, waste generation, water consumption, extension of lifetime) after impact assessment and broad consultation of relevant stakeholders.
 
DIGITALEUROPE is actively involved providing our response on the following Lots: 
  • Lot 3 -  Personal Computers (desktops and laptops) and Computer Monitors
  • New Lot 3 - multimedia equipment
  • Lot 4 - Imaging Equipment: copiers, faxes, printers, scanners and multifunctional devices 
  • Lot 5 - Televisions 
  • Lot 6 - Standby and Off-mode 
  • Lot 18 - Complex Set Top Boxes 
  • Lot 26 - networked standby losses

4. Carbon labeling

Measurement of carbon footprint of ICT products is a very complex task as it requires a thorough understanding of all energy and material outputs and inputs, along with detailed information about materials, tens of thousands of components and hundreds of sub-assemblies. 

During the last few years many different initiatives, both on national, EU and corporate level, have been taken to calculate and inform about products´ effects on the climate. Unfortunately, there is a lack of coordination of these initiatives and international standards are often not taken into account. The consequences of this are difficulties in comparing different effects of products on the climate. 
Looking at the carbon footprint of products can be interesting and useful since it can highlight the key stages of the life cycle of products where carbon impacts are the greatest. But labelling needs to be approached with caution since there are no methodologies so far that can cope with present carbon footprint measurements for ICT products. Measurement of carbon footprint of ICT products is a very complex task as it requires a thorough understanding of all energy and material outputs and inputs, along with detailed information about materials, tens of thousands of components and hundreds of subassemblies.

There seems to be a common agreement that a harmonised methodology for measuring carbon footprint at EU and/or global level, that cope with the above difficulties is essential before formal carbon labelling programs or industry commitments can be established . The EU Commission has for some time noticed an increase in the need to provide better accounting of the climatic effects, and has taken some initiatives to develop the notion of carbon footprinting.

5. Green Public Procurement

Green public procurement (GPP) means that contracting authorities or bodies governed by public law take environmental issues into account when tendering for goods or services. The aim is to reduce the impact of the procurement on the environment. DIGITALEUROPE is engaged in EU green public procurement programs and activities.

6. Printers

The Printers WG brings together environmental and business expertise from the imaging equipment sector (printer and copier manufacturers). Its membership cuts across other DIGITALEUROPE Clusters, in particular Chemicals and Ecodesign. It looks at specific issues that may not be covered elsewhere, such as printer emissions, ink and toner cartridge issues, GPP/ecolabels, and the provisions of horizontal legislation applicable to consumables (e.g. WEEE and RoHS recast).