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Boosting efforts to acquire lables in line with the 2010 targets
Environmental labels indicate that a given product shows consideration for the environment. They are helpful to consumers when wanting to buy products of low environmental load. Environmental labels can be one of the three types (Type I, II and III) standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or a compliance label that indicates that the product complies with specific performance criteria.
The Brother Group is working to acquire various environmental labels, which include targeting for all products by 2010 at the latest, in the 2010 midterm environmental action plan, the "acquisition of ISO Type I label for all new products launched in FY2008 (from April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009) and beyond, and the Brother Green Label for all products not applicable for Type I labels, and making all products compliant with green purchasing laws."
Here below are introduced the main environmental labels acquired by Brother products.
Type I labels
Awarded based on original categories and judgment criteria by third party organizations
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The Blue Angel (German)This eco-label is issued by the Federal Environmental Agency and the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling. |
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Eco Mark (Japan)This eco-label is issued by the Japan Environment Association. It is awarded to products that minimize environmental load and aid environmental protection across their entire life cycle from production to discard. Products having acquired environmental labels in Japan |
 Multi-Function Center Printer Label Printer |
Type II labels
Self-declared labels by businesses
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Brother Green Label (Japan)In October 2001, Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) established voluntary environmental standards for products and created the Brother Green Label to recognize products that satisfied related certification standards. In February 2007, the Brother Green Label certification standards were revised. The major changes are outlined below. 1. Awarded eco-labels to products based on the degree of improvement over the immediately prior model 2. Increased the certification standards common to all group companies from 21 to 26 items Products having acquired environmental labels in Japan |
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| Multi-Function Center |
Printer |
Personal facsimile |
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| Label Printer |
Home Sewing Machine |
Industrial Sewing Machine |
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| Machine Tool |
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Type III labels
Awarded to products whose environmental load is shown quantitatively by LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
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EcoLeaf (Japan)This eco-label is awarded to products that disclose quantitative information about their environmental characteristics. It is managed and issued by the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry. *Approval system for product environmental data collection systems. Businesses that make EcoLeaf labels have the system needed to make them, and the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry verifies and certifies that that system is functioning properly and effectively. Products having acquired environmental labels in Japan |
| Multi-Function Center Printer Personal facsimile |
Conformance label
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International Energy Star Program (the U.S., Japan, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan)This is an international energy saving program for office equipment. Its logo is awarded to products that meet the energy-saving standards. |
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Energy Conservation Certification (Energy saving label) (China)This eco-label is from China. It recognizes products for their energy-saving performance. |
Green purchasing laws
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Products complying with the Law on Promoting Green Purchasing (Japan)In April 2001, the Law on Promoting Green Purchasing went into effect. This law requires that national governmental organizations purchase green products and that regional governmental organizations and private business and individuals try to do the same. Products having acquired environmental labels in Japan |
| Multi-Function Center Printer Personal facsimile |
RoHS directive
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Compliance with the RoHS DirectiveThe EU (European Union) enforced the RoHS (Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment) Directive in July 2006. |
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