Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. has announced that 10 of its e-STUDIO MFPs have secured the top global environmental standard for electronics, the EPEAT Gold rating. EPEAT's Gold rating represents the world's most elite standard for greener electronics, with Silver and Bronze being the other levels established by the Green Electronics Council, the Oregon organization managing the ratings system. EPEAT is the definitive global rating system for greener electronics.
Thirty-nine of Toshiba's e-STUDIO products now meet EPEAT's top two environmental standards (Gold and Silver). The EPEAT rating system evaluates an electronic product's environmental standing in areas such as recyclability, the reduction/elimination of toxic materials, energy conservation, packaging and consumables. Products attain a Bronze rating by meeting more than two dozen required criteria. Devices that earn a Silver or Gold rating have met an additional number of optional criteria.
"I applaud Toshiba American Business Solutions for attaining the highest environmental standards for electronics, the EPEAT Gold rating," said Mimi Walters, congresswoman.
To attain an EPEAT Gold rating, an imaging device must meet all 33 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the 26 optional criteria. As of today, a mere 20 percent of all EPEAT-registered imaging products had achieved a Gold rating.
"Toshiba continues to rise in global product leadership with the announcement of its newest EPEAT Gold-rated devices," said Robert Frisbee, CEO, Green Electronics Council. "An EPEAT Gold-rated product represents the best of the best in environmental leadership. Attaining that mark shows Toshiba's dedication to environmental excellence."
EPEAT is used as an environmental purchasing requirement by eight national governments, including the United States, and is integrated into hundreds of municipal, educational, health care and enterprise IT contracts worldwide. The rating criteria were developed during a four-year stakeholder consensus process that involved hundreds of representatives from the environmental, research, governmental and manufacturing sectors.
"The entire Toshiba team — from R&D and engineering to sales and marketing — is sincerely excited about the wide array of e-STUDIO MFPs becoming EPEAT Gold registered," said Tom Walter, vice president of distribution and aftermarket sales, Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. "Coupled with the inherent ecological benefits customers receive by purchasing our EPEAT-registered products, organizations derive a definitive cost savings. Moreover, considering our company was founded on the principle of nurturing and maintaining a healthy and sustainable planet, it was imperative for our products to attain the world's most exacting eco standard."
The following Toshiba products are EPEAT Gold registered: e-STUDIO207L, e-STUDIO257, e-STUDIO307, e-STUDIO357, e-STUDIO457, e-STUDIO507, e-STUDIO557, e-STUDIO657, e-STUDIO757 and e-STUDIO857.
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