EPEAT Climate+™ designation

Step 1: Confirm product eligibility Verify that your product falls within a supported EPEAT category (computers & displays, mobile phones, servers, imaging equipment, network equipment, or televisions) and that it meets or can meet baseline EPEAT registration criteria before pursuing Climate+.

Step 2: Review the Climate+ criteria Download and study the EPEAT Climate+ criteria document from epeat.net. Understand the enhanced requirements for greenhouse gas emissions reporting, energy efficiency, and end-of-life management that go beyond standard EPEAT registration.

Step 3: Conduct an internal gap analysis Assess your product's current performance against Climate+ criteria. Identify gaps in supply chain emissions data, energy performance, materials declarations, and take-back/recycling programs that need to be addressed.

Step 4: Gather required documentation Compile technical documentation including energy performance test results, Scope 1/2/3 emissions data, materials declarations, and evidence of take-back or recycling programs. Ensure all data is accurate and verifiable.

Step 5: Engage a GEC-approved verification body Select an accredited third-party conformity assessment body approved by GEC to review your documentation. The verifier will assess compliance with all applicable criteria and may request additional evidence or conduct facility audits.

Step 6: Submit to the EPEAT registry Once verification is complete, submit your product registration to the EPEAT registry through the manufacturer portal at epeat.net. Pay applicable registry fees and complete the listing with all required product information.

Step 7: Maintain ongoing conformance After registration, ensure your product continues to meet Climate+ criteria. Participate in annual post-market surveillance audits and update your registry listing if product specifications change.

The EPEAT Climate+™ designation evaluates products against a set of enhanced environmental criteria that build upon the foundational EPEAT standard for each product category. Assessment is organized around several key performance areas.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Climate Performance is the defining pillar of Climate+. Products must demonstrate quantified reductions in lifecycle GHG emissions, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions from manufacturing and supply chain operations. Manufacturers must provide verified emissions data and show progress toward science-based climate targets.

Energy Efficiency criteria require products to meet or exceed established energy performance thresholds during operation, including active use, sleep, and off modes. Products are evaluated against category-specific energy benchmarks that typically exceed ENERGY STAR requirements.

Materials & Chemicals criteria assess the use of recycled content, restricted substances compliance, and the avoidance of hazardous materials throughout the product. This includes requirements for halogen-free components, conflict minerals disclosure, and responsible sourcing of critical materials.

End-of-Life Management evaluates the manufacturer's take-back and recycling programs, including the availability of responsible recycling options for consumers and enterprises, and the percentage of product weight that is recyclable. Manufacturers must demonstrate operational take-back programs in key markets.

Packaging & Logistics criteria examine the environmental footprint of product packaging, including recycled content, recyclability, and reduction of packaging materials. Some categories also assess transportation-related emissions.

Corporate Responsibility & Transparency requires manufacturers to publicly disclose environmental performance data, maintain up-to-date product listings on the EPEAT registry, and demonstrate corporate-level commitments to sustainability aligned with the Climate+ designation's intent.

EPEAT is one of the most widely recognized eco-labels in the electronics sector, particularly in institutional and government procurement. The broader EPEAT registry has been active since 2006 and is referenced in procurement policies across the U.S. federal government, the European Commission, and dozens of national and subnational governments worldwide. The Climate+ designation, launched as a higher-tier add-on to standard EPEAT registration, represents GEC's response to growing demand for more rigorous climate accountability in electronics supply chains — moving beyond energy efficiency to address full lifecycle carbon emissions.

Adoption of Climate+ is still in its early stages relative to the broader EPEAT registry, which lists thousands of products. The designation is most relevant for large, globally operating electronics manufacturers — particularly those in the computer, display, mobile device, and server categories — who face increasing pressure from enterprise and government customers to demonstrate verified climate commitments. As corporate net-zero pledges proliferate and procurement sustainability requirements tighten, demand for Climate+ is expected to grow, particularly in the EU where the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is raising the bar for product environmental disclosures.

Compared to alternatives like TCO Certified and the EU Ecolabel, EPEAT Climate+ benefits from deep integration with existing U.S. federal procurement infrastructure, making it particularly strategic for manufacturers selling into the public sector. TCO Certified is a strong competitor in Europe and for workplace IT products, while ENERGY STAR remains the dominant energy-efficiency label but does not address full lifecycle emissions. Cradle to Cradle Certified addresses circular economy principles more broadly. EPEAT Climate+'s unique value proposition is its combination of registry-based market access, third-party verification, and explicit climate performance criteria — a combination not fully replicated by any single competing label.

The EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) registry was established in 2006 by the Global Electronics Council (then operating under the Green Electronics Council) in response to the U.S. EPA's need for a standardized tool to help government purchasers identify environmentally preferable electronics. Its creation was catalyzed by Executive Order 13101 and subsequent federal sustainability mandates that required agencies to purchase greener products. The registry initially covered computers and displays, using the IEEE 1680 standard as its technical foundation, and quickly became the de facto eco-label for institutional electronics procurement in the United States.

Over the following decade, EPEAT expanded to cover additional product categories including imaging equipment, televisions, mobile phones, servers, and network equipment, and gained recognition in procurement policies across Europe, Canada, Australia, and other markets. The Global Electronics Council was formally established as an independent nonprofit in 2016 to govern and expand the EPEAT program. The EPEAT Climate+™ designation was introduced around 2022 as a response to escalating climate urgency and the limitations of existing criteria in addressing full lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Climate+ was designed as a tiered enhancement to standard EPEAT registration, requiring manufacturers to meet more stringent criteria on supply chain emissions, energy performance, and end-of-life management — reflecting the electronics industry's growing role in corporate and national net-zero commitments.