01732 759725 magazine 19 The circle closes at the end But even certified monitors reach the end of their life at some point and have to be disposed of - and the mountain of e-waste, most of which is shipped to African or other emerging countries, continues to grow. Computer screens, with their very small built-in circuit boards and burnt-in chemicals, are considered a particular challenge for recycling and the circular economy. In Africa at least, a large proportion of these cannot be recycled properly due to a lack of suitable facilities and resources. Philips Monitors therefore joined an initiative years ago that developed a successful business model as part of a pilot project on how a certified solution for waste-neutral electronics can be extended to monitors and thus set new standards for environmentally friendly procurement. At the end of the project, the recycler was able to dismantle flat screens in a very safe and efficient way, reducing the costs required by more than half and returning raw materials to the cycle. ‘Green’ monitors – a win-win situation for everyone! device and set industry standards that will change display production on a whole. This is because the rapid technological development of the IT/CE sector is leading to an industry-wide unique product sequence, which makes the need to manufacture more sustainable devices more difficult, but also promotes it. Philips Monitors is pursuing a holistic approach along the value chain: from the procurement of sustainable materials for production to the greatest possible reduction of packaging and plastic. This has already proved successful: Philips Monitors recently received the EPEAT Climate+ seal from the Global Electronics Council (GEC) for its commitment to developing and manufacturing high-performance products in accordance with environmental standards that meet strict criteria for reducing the carbon footprint, thus becoming an EPEAT Climate+ Champion. The seal helps buyers to quickly recognise technology products that have been designed and manufactured with climate protection in mind. This enables them to make informed decisions and select products that are in line with their values of environmental responsibility. reduce the blue light emitted by the screen and make the viewing experience more pleasant. For a healthy posture in front of the screen, the displays can also be adjusted in height, rotated, tilted and swivelled using the ergonomic stand. However, saving energy and ergonomics alone are not enough. Truly environmentally conscious users demand products that are made from environmentally friendly, sustainable materials and are part of a circular economy. Here too, these models are impressive. All three are made from 85 % recycled plastic, contain no mercury and their casings do not contain PVC or brominated flame retardants. They are also packaged in materials that are made from 100 % recycled material. And, of course, they fulfil key international standards such as EnergyStar 8.0 and RoHS. Beyond the immediate advantage For Philips Monitors, however, these models are just the beginning. The company’s ambition is for ‘circular thinking’ to permeate all internal design and production processes in the future. The aim is to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a COVER STORY
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