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Meacher - Urges The Electronics Industry To Design Out Environmental Inefficiencies

March 07, 2002

Environment Minister Michael Meacher today urged electronics manufacturers to promote more environmentally friendly products and design out inefficient energy features to help the consumer.

Better product design, clear labelling and advice on use and disposal are already positive features of Britain's electronics industry. The mandatory EU energy labelling scheme is something the Government is keen to extend to all key electrical goods.

Simple but effective measures like the industry's voluntary agreement with other EU member states last year, mean that participating manufacturers agree not to place televisions and video recorders on the market with standby power consumption over 10 watts. Eighty-five per cent of electricity used by a VCR is consumed while it is not actually switched on and in standby mode.The same applies to many other domestic electrical appliances.

Mr Meacher, speaking to the Board of the Federation of the Electronics Industry today said it still has big environmental challenges ahead.

Mr Meacher said:
" Consumer ignorance with electrical goods is often not the consumers' fault.The consumer should be well informed not just by the manufacturers about what is being purchased and how it works, but also by retailers.

" Energy efficiency is vital to maintain a sustainable future. It may be a tv, video or computer, dishwasher or washing machine, but with effective labelling, consumers should always be given the option to purchase energy efficient goods. With today's technological advances some electrical products in the shops actually use up to 50 per cent less electricity than inefficient goods.

" More efficient products reduce the environmental impacts of production through friendly raw materials, reduce energy consumption and the products' end-of-life impact. The savings in electricity bills through energy efficiency should be a powerful stimulant for consumer demand for energy efficient products."

Mr Meacher also urged industry to be more competitive and set tighter standards for electronics products. He added, "few would argue that the poorest performing products should not be excluded from the market".

He also recognised the contribution the industry has made to DEFRA's Market Transformation Programme and to the discussions on the future adoption of the Waste of Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive. However, big challenges remained for an industry whose products currently contribute 12,000 tonnes of waste to landfill - including valuable resources such as copper, nickel and zinc, as well as 18 tonnes of silver and 6 tonnes of gold.

Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

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