Originally published December 1 2005
HP to eliminate flame retardants from external case parts
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
HP expects to eliminate the retardant tetrabromobisphenol (BFR) in all products introduced after December 31, 2006. This action joins a host of other improvements HP has implemented for environmental performance.
Hewlett Packard (HP) is eliminating the use of brominated flame retardant (BFR) tetrabromobisphenol A from external case parts of all new HP brand products introduced after Dec 31, 2006.
In a statement on Nov 2, it said that it has so far eliminated 95% of the BFRs used in external case parts of its products more than 10 years ago, including two -- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) -- which were subsequently among the substances restricted by the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.
HP said that more than 20 years, it had pioneered a Design for Environment (DFE) initiative and is continually seeking ways to improve the environmental performance of is products and operations.
* Eliminating the use of mercury in most of HP's all-in-one products by replacing mercury containing scanner lamps with a new contact imaging technology lamp.
This would also make the products easier to recycle; * Shipment earlier this year of HP's first RoHS-compliant products; * Recognition for the HP Deskjet 6540 and 3740 printers as the 2004 Products of the Year in the Best Green Computing Product category for minimal environmental impact and recycling by analog zone.
"By integrating environmental considerations into the design process, HP is able to reduce material costs, decrease a product's negative environmental impact, meet customer demands for smaller and more efficient products, and reduce recycling and disposal costs -- ultimately reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills," it said.
HP also said it will exceed compliance obligations by meeting the requirements of the RoHS directive on a worldwide basis.
It will also eliminate lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as defined in the EU's RoHS directive in 50% of HP electronic products sold worldwide six months ahead of the July 2006 deadline of the EU RoHS directive.
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