Summary
Details
- Global
EPEAT is not legally mandatory.
It can become practically required where:
A government procurement policy requires EPEAT-registered electronics.
A corporate buyer requires EPEAT.
A university, hospital or public authority uses EPEAT in purchasing.
A tender references EPEAT criteria.
A supplier agreement requires EPEAT registration.
A sustainable IT policy requires EPEAT products.
In most cases, EPEAT is voluntary and market-driven.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. Product registration under applicable EPEAT criteria
- 2. Compliance with updated sustainability criteria
- 3. Third-party verification
- 4. Product listing and purchaser use
- 5. Climate criteria transition
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- 1. Product delisting or non-registration
- 2. Loss of procurement eligibility
- 3. Claim correction
- 4. Contractual consequences
- 5. Greenwashing risk
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. Product registration under applicable EPEAT criteria
Manufacturers must register eligible products against the applicable EPEAT product category and criteria set.
Relevant product areas may include:
Computers and displays.
Imaging equipment.
Mobile phones.
Servers.
Televisions.
Network equipment.
Photovoltaic modules and inverters, where applicable to EPEAT category coverage.
Other technology product categories listed by EPEAT.
2. Compliance with updated sustainability criteria
EPEAT’s updated criteria focus on:
Climate change.
Sustainable use of resources and circularity.
Reduction of chemicals of concern.
Corporate ESG performance.
Manufacturers may need to document:
Product energy performance.
Product longevity and repairability.
Recycled content or recyclable design.
Packaging requirements.
Chemical restrictions.
Responsible end-of-life management.
Corporate emissions or ESG practices.
Supplier management.
3. Third-party verification
EPEAT is based on product registration and verification. Manufacturers must provide evidence that products meet required and optional criteria.
Evidence may include:
Technical product documentation.
Test reports.
Supplier declarations.
Materials information.
Lifecycle or carbon data.
Packaging evidence.
Repairability documentation.
Chemical compliance information.
Corporate policy documentation.
4. Product listing and purchaser use
Products that meet EPEAT requirements are listed in the EPEAT Registry. Purchasers can use the registry to identify products that meet specified sustainability criteria.
This is important for:
Public procurement.
Corporate IT procurement.
Education and healthcare purchasing.
Sustainable electronics policies.
Supplier screening.
Technology lifecycle management.
5. Climate criteria transition
GEC states that all products will have to meet the EPEAT Climate Criteria by December 31, 2025.
Companies should check:
Applicable product category.
Current criteria version.
Climate criteria applicability.
Transition dates.
Registry status.
Purchaser requirements.
Important Deadlines
EPEAT is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.
Important timing points:
Updated EPEAT criteria are being rolled out through a multi-year update process.
EPEAT Climate Criteria apply to all products by December 31, 2025, according to GEC materials.
Product registration timing depends on product category, criteria set, documentation, and verification.
Purchasers should confirm current EPEAT Registry status before procurement decisions.
Current Status
EPEAT is active and global. GEC describes EPEAT as a leading global electronics ecolabel and is updating criteria to address climate, circularity, chemicals of concern, and corporate ESG performance.
Current status:
Active global ecolabel.
Focused on electronics and technology products.
Managed by Global Electronics Council.
Criteria are being updated.
Used by purchasers to identify more sustainable products.
Relevant to IT, electronics, public procurement, and corporate sustainability.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
EPEAT does not impose statutory penalties.
Possible consequences include:
1. Product delisting or non-registration
A product may not be listed if it does not meet applicable criteria.
2. Loss of procurement eligibility
Products may be excluded from tenders or purchasing programs that require EPEAT.
3. Claim correction
Unsupported EPEAT claims may need to be corrected.
4. Contractual consequences
Failure to meet buyer requirements may affect supplier contracts.
5. Greenwashing risk
Misleading claims about sustainable electronics can create reputational and legal risk.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Claiming EPEAT registration for a product not listed in the registry.
Applying EPEAT claims to a product family beyond registered models.
Using outdated criteria.
Missing documentation for climate or circularity criteria.
Treating EPEAT as proof of full legal compliance.
Overstating recycled content or repairability.
Ignoring chemical criteria.
Failing to monitor product status after updates.
Using EPEAT claims in markets or procurement contexts without checking current listing.
Resources
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