Greenguard Releases New Standard for Office Equipment
The Greenguard Environmental Institute has adopted a new standard for printers, copiers, and multifunctional peripherals.
The Greenguard Environmental Institute has adopted a new standard for printers, copiers, and multifunctional peripherals. The Greenguard certification program is the only independent testing program for low-emitting products.
The updated standard is based on the most recent requirements for hard copy devices released by Germany's Blue Angel program. Blue Angel, the first environmental label in the world, was created in 1977 to work with the market to foster competition for the best possible ecological properties of products and services to be labeled on a voluntary basis. Currently, about 3,700 products and services in 80 product categories have been awarded the Blue Angel label.
The new Greenguard standard features more stringent emission criteria than the previous Blue Angel and Greenguard standards. The Greenguard Standard for Office Equipment continues to include emission requirements for formaldehyde, which is currently not addressed in the Blue Angel criteria.
"Greenguard is constantly monitoring developments worldwide regarding indoor air quality and product emissions testing," says Henning Bloech, director of communications for the Greenguard certification program. "By adopting the most recent Blue Angel requirements, owners and consumers of Greenguard-certified office equipment can rest assured that the products they purchase meet the most stringent indoor air quality standard in the world. Manufacturers of such products, on the other hand, can meet the emissions requirements of a multitude of international programs by making their products comply with the Greenguard criteria."
Office equipment has been associated with health effects due to the release of chemicals, gases, and particles. These emissions originate from many sources such as inks and toners, papers or media used, the mechanical printing process, plastic construction materials, and circuit boards. While many chemical emissions decrease over time with usage of the product, some are the result of mechanical operation and are released whenever the machine is operating. Greenguard-certified office machines help to significantly reduce indoor air pollution.
The updated standard is based on the most recent requirements for hard copy devices released by Germany's Blue Angel program. Blue Angel, the first environmental label in the world, was created in 1977 to work with the market to foster competition for the best possible ecological properties of products and services to be labeled on a voluntary basis. Currently, about 3,700 products and services in 80 product categories have been awarded the Blue Angel label.
The new Greenguard standard features more stringent emission criteria than the previous Blue Angel and Greenguard standards. The Greenguard Standard for Office Equipment continues to include emission requirements for formaldehyde, which is currently not addressed in the Blue Angel criteria.
"Greenguard is constantly monitoring developments worldwide regarding indoor air quality and product emissions testing," says Henning Bloech, director of communications for the Greenguard certification program. "By adopting the most recent Blue Angel requirements, owners and consumers of Greenguard-certified office equipment can rest assured that the products they purchase meet the most stringent indoor air quality standard in the world. Manufacturers of such products, on the other hand, can meet the emissions requirements of a multitude of international programs by making their products comply with the Greenguard criteria."
Office equipment has been associated with health effects due to the release of chemicals, gases, and particles. These emissions originate from many sources such as inks and toners, papers or media used, the mechanical printing process, plastic construction materials, and circuit boards. While many chemical emissions decrease over time with usage of the product, some are the result of mechanical operation and are released whenever the machine is operating. Greenguard-certified office machines help to significantly reduce indoor air pollution.
