ECODESIGN in the electronics industry — achieving legal compliance with the EU-directives and environmentally improving products by using the new EEE-PILOT

Abstract

Because of the rising number of waste of electrical and electronic equipment the European Union implemented two new directives. There is the directive for the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) and the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). In order to facilitate for enterprises to fulfill the directives, a practical tool has been created. In which first information over the frameworks of the directives are mentioned and target group, validity and deadlines for reports are given. The EEE-PILOT is a software tool, which helps product developers to find suitable strategies and measures in order to improve its product in such a way that it corresponds to the requirements of the WEEE and the RoHS directive. The EEE-PILOT is divided into four areas. In the first area, WHO?, it will be determined whether one (manufacturers, dealers and importers) is concerned at all. In the second, WHAT?, the content of the directives is prepared easily understandable, in the third, WHEN?, the exact deadlines for implementation are listed and in the fourth area, HOW?, strategies and measures for the implementation in practice are mentioned. Achieving the legal compliance is very much simplified by working with the checklists. The results of the EEE-PILOT are concrete instructions which are can be realized easily. A case study carried out using a Digital Voice Recorder is presented in the paper. With the use of the EEE-PILOT a list of improvement ideas has been generated