Sony SDM-S205K: TCO’99 Eco-document (for the black

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TCO’99 Eco-document (for the black 

model)

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Congratulations! 

You have just purchased a TCO’99 approved and labelled product! Your 

choice has provided you with a product developed for professional use. 

Your purchase has also contributed to reducing the burden on the 

environment and also to the further development of environmentally 

adapted electronics products.

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Why do we have environmentally labelled com-

puters? 

In many countries, environmental labelling has become an established 

method for encouraging the adaptation of goods and services to the 

environment. The main problem, as far as computers and other electronics 

equipment are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are 

used both in the products and during their manufacture. Since it is not so 

far possible to satisfactorily recycle the majority of electronics equipment, 

most of these potentially damaging substances sooner or later enter nature. 

There are also other characteristics of a computer, such as energy 

consumption levels, that are important from the viewpoints of both the 

work (internal) and natural (external) environments. Since all methods of 

electricity generation have a negative effect on the environment (e.g. 

acidic and climate-influencing emissions, radioactive waste), it is vital to 

save energy. Electronics equipment in offices is often left running 

continuously and thereby consumes a lot of energy.

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What does labelling involve?

This product meets the requirements for the TCO’99 scheme which 

provides for international and environmental labelling of personal 

computers. The labelling scheme was developed as a joint effort by the 

TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Svenska 

Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) 

and Statens Energimyndighet (The Swedish National Energy 

Administration).

Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, 

ergonomics, usability, emission of electric and magnetic fields, energy 

consumption and electrical and fire safety.

The environmental demands impose restrictions on the presence and use 

of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs 

(freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must 

be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an 

environmental policy which must be adhered to in each country where the 

company implements its operational policy.

The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or 

display, after a certain period of inactivity, shall reduce its power 

consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The length of time to 

reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.

Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, 

in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields, physical and 

visual ergonomics and good usability.

Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements 

met by this product. The complete environmental criteria document may 

be ordered from:

TCO Development

SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden

Fax: +46 8 782 92 07

Email (Internet): development@tco.se

Current information regarding TCO’99 approved and labelled 

products may also be obtained via the Internet, using the address: 

http://www.tco-info.com/

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Environmental requirements

Flame retardants

Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, 

casings and housings. Their purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the 

spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can consist 

of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or 

chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically related to another 

group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants 

containing bromine or chloride and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise 

to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating 

birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame 

retardants have been found in human blood and researchers fear that 

disturbances in foetus development may occur.

The relevant TCO’99 demand requires that plastic components weighing 

more than 25 grams must not contain flame retardants with organically 

bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed 

circuit boards since no substitutes are available.

Cadmium

**

Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating 

layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous 

system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO’99 requirement states 

that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens and the 

electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.

Mercury

**

Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages 

the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO’99 

requirement states that batteries may not contain any mercury. It also 

demands that mercury is not present in any of the electrical or electronics 

components associated with the labelled unit.

CFCs (freons)

The relevant TCO’99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs 

may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the product. CFCs 

(freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards. CFCs 

break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, 

causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased 

risks of skin cancer (malignant melanoma) as a consequence.

Lead

**

Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and 

capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses, causes 

lead poisoning. The relevant TCO’99 requirement permits the inclusion of 

lead since no replacement has yet been developed.

*

Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within 

living organisms.

** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-

accumulative.