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The Global Electronics Council® (GEC) has announced a major overhaul of the EPEAT® (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) criteria, a move that promises to reshape sustainability and human rights standards in electronics.
Starting 1 November 2025, the updated regulations aim to cut down environmental damage, enforce ethical supply chain practices, and improve product lifecycle transparency.
A Milestone for Sustainable Electronics
EPEAT, launched in 2006, has become a key tool for identifying environmentally responsible electronics, boasting results like 341 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents diverted and $34 billion in lifetime savings.
Now, with its most recent update, the ecolabel is poised to take sustainability efforts to new heights.“With the completion of the updated EPEAT criteria, we are providing the most comprehensive approach yet to accelerate the international market for sustainable electronics,” said Bob Mitchell, CEO of GEC.
“These criteria address critical environmental and social challenges, from emissions reduction to supply chain labour practices, empowering both the industry and purchasers to make informed, responsible choices that benefit all stakeholders.”
Key Focus Areas
The new criteria emphasise four critical sustainability areas:
- Climate Impact
The updated EPEAT standards focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by targeting supply chain decarbonisation, improving product energy efficiency, and requiring the establishment of science-based targets for sustainability. - Circularity
Electronics manufacturers will be encouraged to prioritise recycled materials, enhance repairability, and improve end-of-life product management. These steps will help extend product lifespans and reduce electronic waste, contributing to a more circular economy. - Chemicals
The revised criteria also tackle hazardous substances in electronics, pushing for safer materials and greater transparency in the supply chain. This ensures that products meet the highest environmental and health standards. - Responsible Supply Chains
A major update includes stronger protections for labour and human rights, reinforcing ethical sourcing of minerals and responsible environmental management in global electronics supply chains. These measures aim to prevent exploitation and ensure better working conditions.
Industry and Institutional Support
The updated EPEAT criteria have received strong support from both industry leaders and institutional purchasers who depend on the ecolabel to guide responsible sourcing decisions.
“We are excited to have the possibility of purchasing electronics that meet these newly released criteria as soon as they can be listed on the EPEAT registry,” said Paul Chamberland, Chief Information Officer at McGill University.
“As McGill seeks to track and manage some of the key environmental and social impacts through its supply chain, we are proud to have contributed to background work leading to these new criteria and appreciate the value of this framework to help us source more responsibly made electronics.“
The Future of Sustainable Tech
The updated EPEAT criteria, effective November 2025, provide both electronics brands and institutional buyers with a clearer roadmap for sustainability. Companies that meet the new requirements will not only minimise their environmental impact but also adhere to global ethical sourcing standards.
The EPEAT ecolabel will remain a key tool for driving industry change, as demand for sustainable and ethically produced technology rises. The expectation is that these revised criteria will inspire greater innovation, pushing manufacturers to set more ambitious sustainability goals in the future.