Ove Jansson updates Nordic Swan developments
October 31, 2012
Following The Recycler’s investigation of recent complaints concerning Version 5.0 Nordic Swan, Product Manager Ove Jansson proposes omitting the mandatory LGA emissions test.
Product Manager for product
group Toner Cartridges Ove Jansson has announced a number of proposals in a bid to stem concerns and complaints following an investigation by The Recycler regarding the mandatory inclusion of the LGA emissions test in Version 5.0 of the Nordic White Swan criteria.
The investigation detailed how the inclusion of the test could lead to the environmental standard becoming extremely costly to apply for, and would certainly exclude it from a number of aftermarket companies. LGA are also stated to withhold vital information regarding test procedure, ensuring that LGA maintains a monopoly on the testing.
While Jansson has confirmed that Version 5.0 has now become the official criteria, with the LGA toner emissions test detailed under “R6 Testing for pollutants in toner powder”, he has made a number of proposals to the Nordic Ecolabel board.
“We have now after the [Version 5.0 criteria] publication received new information from ETIRA and toner powder manufacturers that [the test] will mean serious increased costs […] so severe that it will mean that it will be almost impossible to apply for the Nordic Ecolabelling.
“We in the Nordic Ecolabel take this information very seriously and have started an investigation regarding this issue. This investigation has lead us to suggest the following changes of the criteria to our board: Requirements “R6 Testing for pollutants in toner powder” is removed from the criteria version 5.0; “Appendix 1 test methods for pollutants in toner porder” is also removed from the criteria version 5.0; The standards DIN 33870-1 and DIN 33870-2 are inserted into requirements “R15 Print quality” and “R16 Print capacity”.”
Jansson has also recommended that version 4.3 is to be extended by six months and will remain valid until 31 December 2013.
The board is due to meet on 15-16 November, and Jansson has stated that an announcement will be made shortly afterwards.
For more on the inclusion of the LGA emissions test in Version 5.0 of the Nordic Swan criteria, read The Recycler Investigates: LGA emissions test in issue 238.
Categories : Rank 1
Tags : Environment Legal Nordic Swan
One comment on “Ove Jansson updates Nordic Swan developments”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Dear all,
I like to test developing Toner cartridge criteria for the Nordic Ecolabel true The Recycler commentary field.
I now would like to have your comments on this suggestion for a new formulation of the requirement R6 Testing for pollutants in toner powder:
R6 Testing for pollutants in toner powder:
1. If the toner powder to be used for Nordic Ecolabelled toner cartridges have been tested according to the test methods for the volatile organic compounds (VOC), heavy metals, tin compounds and azo dyes listed below. The test report from that test shall be sent with the application to the Nordic Ecolabel.
2. If the toner powder to be used for Nordic Ecolabelled toner cartridges have an annual production volume of >100 tonnes at the licensee manufacturer. The toner powder must be tested in accordance with the testing methods below* and checked against set limits for the volatile organic compounds (VOC), heavy metals, tin compounds and azo dyes
The first part is an information requirement and only ask for a test report if the toner powder has been tested.
The second part is only valid for toner powder manufactured over 100 tonnes/year on the global market.
Is this a good limit today?
* See the R6 requirement in the criteria version 5.0 on http://www.svanen.se/en/Svanenmarka/Kriterier/Criteria/?productGroupID=75001
Best Regards
Ove Jansson, Product manager Nordic Ecolabel.
E-Mail: ove.jansson@svanen.se