The Green Electronics Council plans to expand its EPEAT environmental rating system later this year to include smartphones, the council said Tuesday.
The move could push phone makers to change the way they manufacture, package or distribute their devices because some companies and governments require preference be given to EPEAT-compliant devices when products are purchased.
EPEAT is a rating system intended to help identify greener electronics equipment. The standard for mobile devices is expected to be ready by the end of this year and will be based on Underwriters Laboratories' UL110 standard covering the environmental and human health aspects of a mobile phone's lifecycle. The UL110 standard is currently a draft, and the Green Electronics Council said it's collaborating with the organization to ensure it is suitable for adoption as the basis of the EPEAT standard.
"We want to ensure it's balanced, open and includes participation from the NGO community," said Sarah O'Brien, director of stakeholder engagement at the Green Electronics Council.
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