REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT® Criteria
Introduction
The Global Electronics Council© (GEC) is a non-profit that stimulates the market for sustainable electronic
products and services. By deciding to prioritize the purchase of sustainable technology, institutional purchasers
help “move the needle” toward a more sustainable world. GEC also enables manufacturers to demonstrate theirefforts to address the sustainability impacts of their technology and act to evolve operational, supply chain, andprocurement priorities.
GEC is the manager of the EPEAT ecolabel, which is used by more purchasers of electronics than any otherecolabel worldwide. EPEAT establishes criteria that address priority sustainability impacts throughout the life
cycle of the product, based on an evaluation of scientific evidence and international best practices.
GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update its EPEAT Criteria to align with priority sustainability impactsof electronic products and their supply chains. GEC is doing this to ensure the criteria:•••

Meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains,
Address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories, andRespond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas are Climate Change, Circularity and Sustainable Use of Resources,
Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, these updated criteria will be applied
across all EPEAT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones,Servers, and Televisions.
Through extensive stakeholder consultation, GEC has revised the implementation plan for the updated criteria
for the above five product categories. This implementation plan includes the timeframe for when EPEAT
registered products must meet the updated criteria and other critical activities needed for an efficient andeffective transition to the updated criteria.
This document contains background information and the revised implementation plan, including the new
implementation timeline.
The information in this document applies to all existing Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved
Conformity Assurance Bodies and may also be of interest to purchasers, policy makers, investors and other
EPEAT stakeholders interested in the transition to the updated EPEAT Criteria.
For questions about this implementation plan, please contact us at EPEAT@GEC.org.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 1

Background
GEC Criteria Development Process
Criteria are being revised through GEC’s Criteria Development Process, which includes expanded stakeholder
engagement and a streamlined process with multiple opportunities for engagement. Each priority sustainability
impact area – Climate Change, Circularity and Sustainable Use of Resources, Chemicals of Concern, andCorporate ESG Performance – is a separate criteria development project to enable maximum engagement of
stakeholders and allow experts to engage in the process on topics that align with their areas of expertise. The
policies governing GEC’s Criteria Development Process are publicly available and the graphic below illustrates
the steps in the process.
Development of the updated criteria is still underway, with the final set of updated criteria expected to be
published no later than the end of October 2024. The most recent version of the criteria development schedulecan be found on the EPEAT Announcements Page.

Consultation on Implementation Plan for Updated Criteria
GEC undertook extensive stakeholder consultation throughout 2022, including outreach to Participating
Manufacturers, GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), purchasers, policy makers, and other EPEAT
stakeholders. From May to July 2022, GEC sought feedback and suggestions on the original proposed
implementation plan via individual calls with various stakeholders, as well as meetings with broader groups
including the Conformity Guidance Group and the Advisory Council. In August 2022, GEC refined the originalplan based on the preliminary feedback that had been received, and re-engaged stakeholders to solicit
comments on a revised implementation plan through the remainder of 2022.
GEC continued to receive feedback on the implementation plan and timeline throughout 2023. In addition,
implementation topics were addressed during monthly CAB Calibration meetings and monthly Conformity
Guidance Group meetings. From June through August 2023, GEC re-engaged with key stakeholders specificallyon the implementation timeline, taking into consideration modifications to the criteria development schedule.
Key consultation activities undertaken by GEC in the development of this implementation plan and the revised
implementation timeline are highlighted in the graphic below.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 2

Considerations for Evaluating Plan Options
GEC identified basic overarching principles to guide the development of theimplementation plan, to ensure that all options were examined in a balancedmanner that also aligned with the EPEAT Program’s responsibilities andrequirements as a Type 1 ecolabel. To this end, GEC’s decisions were guided by acommitment to being fair, objective, and transparent in the development of theplan.
It was important to GEC that the implementation plan not provide preference to asingle product category, product type, or Participating Manufacturer. Perhaps justas importantly, GEC also ensured that the final plan could be implemented
consistently by all CABs and Participating Manufacturers. Meeting the timeline andneeds of purchasers was equally critical.

Overarching
Principles:
Credibility
Consistency
Objectivity
Transparency
Leadership

GEC relied on these basic principles to guide its decision-making process andbalance a variety of competing interests in developing and revising theimplementation plan in a credible, and objective way.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 3

Revised Implementation Plan
Revised Implementation Schedule for All Updated Criteria
Key dates in the schedule for implementation of the updated EPEAT criteria are identified below. In recognitionof the strong desire from all EPEAT stakeholders to have certainty and clarity on the path forward, the transitionschedule presented in this document is now final.
The last set of updated criteria is expected to be published before the end of October 2024. As soon as each setof updated criteria are published, CABs and Participating Manufacturers can begin work on necessary
conformity assurance activities, including Documentation Review for the updated criteria.
The public EPEAT Registry will launch on November 1, 2025 and products meeting the updated criteria from all
sustainability impact areas will become visible. To balance the length of product development cycles withpurchasers needs for EPEAT registered product availability, new products may also register against the priorcriteria until April 1, 2026. As of December 31, 2026, all products on the EPEAT Registry must meet the updated
criteria or they will be archived.
Cognizant of purchasers’ strong desire to begin procuring products that meet the updated criteria as soon as
possible, and aware of the reality of product development cycles, GEC believes this implementation schedule
strikes a fair balance and will ensure a successful transition to the updated EPEAT Criteria.

Final Revised Schedule for Implementation of All Updated Criteria*Indicates firm date

E1

June 30, 2024

All updated criteria expected to be published (except Sustainable Use of Resources).
Note that each set of criteria will be publicly available upon its individual publication
date.

E2

October 31, 2024

Expected publication date of Sustainable Use of Resources criteria.

3

November 1, 2025*

Public launch of EPEAT Registry where products meeting updated criteria from all
impact areas are available on EPEAT Registry.

4

April 1, 2026*

Date that new products must meet all updated criteria.

5

December 31, 2026*

Sunset date to archive products not meeting the updated criteria. Registry will provide
visibility through alternate listing which will last past sunset date.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 4EPEAT Climate+™
EPEAT Climate+ is a designation that can be earned by EPEAT registered products. EPEAT Climate+ allows
Participating Manufacturers to promote their commitment to addressing climate change and reach purchasers
and other stakeholders looking to do the same through procurement, investment, or other means. Instead of
waiting for implementation of all updated criteria, Participating Manufacturer can show their commitment toclimate change mitigation now through the EPEAT Registry.
Key Details About Early Adopter Status:•

To achieve the EPEAT Climate+ product designation, conformance must be demonstrated with all
required Climate Criteria and be verified by a Conformity Assurance Body as having done so. 1•

EPEAT Climate+ can only be achieved by products.

•

Participating Manufacturers are not required to have their products achieve EPEAT Climate+. However,those that do will be recognized on the EPEAT Registry as EPEAT Climate+ Champions.

•

EPEAT Climate+ does not affect a product’s tier level of Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Tier levels are still basedon the percentage of available optional EPEAT criteria that apply to the product type.

•

Products that have achieved the EPEAT Climate+ designation will appear in the public EPEAT Registry
starting September 30, 2023.

•

On November 1, 2025, the updated requirements for EPEAT Climate+ designation will become effective.
These new requirements will be announced in Spring 2024.

EPEAT Climate+: Key Dates
May 16, 2023

Publication date of Climate Change Mitigation criteria.

May 16, 2023

Training and conformity resources available. Date that Participating Manufacturers
began working with CABs on the required EPEAT Climate Criteria.

August 31, 2023

Manufacturers can access new back end of Registry for EPEAT Climate+ designation.

September 30, 2023

EPEAT registered products achieving the EPEAT Climate+ designation appear in the
EPEAT Registry. Participating Manufacturers with EPEAT registered products with
the Climate+ designation recognized on the Registry as EPEAT Climate+ Champions.

Spring 2024

Updated requirements for EPEAT Climate+ designation to be published.

November 1, 2025

Updated requirements for EPEAT Climate+ designation go into effect.

1

To achieve the EPEAT Climate+ designation, a product must be EPEAT registered and meet all required EPEAT Climate Criteria.
Requirements to achieve this designation may evolve over time and may require additional conformity assurance activities. In such cases,
EPEAT will update this document and provide Participating Manufacturers with at least 18 months’ notice of any such changes.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 5Other Critical Implementation Elements
In addition to the implementation schedule, there are many other activities that are just as important for a
successful transition from a conformity assurance standpoint. Consistency, transparency, objectivity, andefficiency are key principles driving all transition elements.
Supporting Resources
EPEAT will continue to develop conformity resources for each criterion, approximately within two months ofpublication of the criteria for each sustainability impact module. The actual schedule may differ based on
number/complexity of criteria. These resources will be available on the back end of the EPEAT Registry.
Conformity Resources for the Climate Criteria are available using an EPEAT Registry account.
Training
An on-demand training for CAB Auditors and Participating Manufacturers will be available no later than two anda half months after publication of the criteria for each module. CAB Auditors must pass training and exams foreach module to be qualified to perform Documentation Review and Continuous Monitoring activities. Training
materials (presentation and recording) for the Climate Criteria are available using an EPEAT Registry account.
Documentation Review
CAB Auditors must complete the auditor training and achieve 75% or higher on the corresponding exam to bequalified to perform documentation review activities for Participating Manufacturer clients. However, CABs canhelp Participating Manufacturers with questions as soon as criteria are published, before completing training.
Continuous Monitoring
The EPEAT Program has developed the following Continuous Monitoring plan to balance the needs of all
stakeholders.
2024

2025

2026

Product testing Round (Level 2) toexisting criteria. Round will launchin Q1.

Product testing Round (Level 2) toexisting criteria. Round will launchin Q1.

Product testing Round (Level 2) to
updated criteria. Round will launchlater in 2026.

Round(s) assessing publicly
available information (Level 0).

Round(s) assessing publicly
available information (Level 0).

Round(s) assessing publicly
available information (Level 0).

The EPEAT Program will follow up on inconclusive Level 0 investigations to ensure information is available. If
publicly available information cannot be found, Level 1 investigations may be initiated.
Questions Arising During Documentation Review
EPEAT publishes a Recently Answered Questions document, which summarizes the questions received andresponses provided by EPEAT the updated criteria. The document is intended to make it easier for Participating
Manufacturers and CABs to learn about and easily access new information that may impact and/or facilitate

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 6

ongoing conformity assurance activities. The document is updated on Thursdays between 1 pm and 5 pm North
American Pacific Time.
EPEAT will continue to hold monthly CAB Calibration Meetings with all CABs to review questions that arise
during conformity assurance activities.
EPEAT has scheduled monthly Conformity Guidance Group meetings to address questions that arise on the
updated criteria. The Conformity Guidance Group is open to all stakeholders including Participating
Manufacturers, GEC-approved CABs, and purchasers. The Conformity Guidance Group is not a standing
committee and there are no standing members. Participants may register for each meeting using the links
below. Currently, each meeting is scheduled in one timeslot to bring all attendees together, however, additionaltimeslots may be added to a monthly meeting depending on the topic(s) to be discussed.
The schedule for the remainder of 2023 is below and the schedule for 2024 will be released by the end of 2023.
•

September 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Central Europe/10pm China•

October 12, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Central Europe /10pm China•

November 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Central Europe /11pm China•

December 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Central Europe /11pm China

Manufacturers Using More than One CAB
Participating Manufacturers may choose to use different CABs for different categories, and product registrationand product listings on the EPEAT Registry will remain by product category. Except for consumables, productenergy efficiency, and some criteria with small differences in language and/or requirements for different
product types, criteria will be identical across the Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones,Servers, and Televisions product categories. Corporation level criteria are criteria where evidence is required tocover all of these product categories which the manufacturer has EPEAT-registered products.
If a Participating Manufacturer uses different CABs for different product categories, they may choose one of thefollowing options:1) Participating Manufacturer selects a single CAB which will complete Documentation Review of all
corporation level criteria. All Continuous Monitoring investigations for the corporation level criteria will
be implemented by this CAB.
2) Participating Manufacturer has both CABs complete Documentation Review of the corporation level
criteria. Continuous Monitoring investigations will be implemented on a product category basis by the
CAB for the product category.

REVISED Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria
Published August 25, 2023
Global Electronics Council©2023 Green Electronics Council dba Global Electronics Council. All rights reserved.

Page 7