by Brianna Crandall — March 21, 2012—Facilities managers and others comparing the newest, fastest mobile handset devices, whether to help manage work activities or for personal use, will soon be able to learn about their environmental features, too. Later this year, global communications giant AT&T plans to launch a new eco-rating system that the company developed in collaboration with BSR, a global business network and consultancy focused on sustainability. Consumers will find AT&T eco-ratings on simple, easy-to-read-and-understand labels appearing on AT&T-branded mobile devices.
The new system, which is intended to set an example for industry-wide sustainability efforts and will evolve as technology and sustainability needs change, is reportedly a direct response to customer wants and needs. AT&T cited a Deloitte study on consumer trends in the purchase of sustainable products in which 54 percent of surveyed shoppers consider sustainability to be one of their decision-making factors.
AT&T’s eco-rating system will cover attributes such as: environmentally preferable materials, energy efficiency, responsible end-of-life treatment, and environmentally-responsible manufacturing. In assigning ratings, device manufacturers will submit an assessment of each device to determine how many of 15 key criteria are met. These criteria cover everything from the percentage of recycled metals used in the device, to restriction of compounds such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel and antimony trioxide/antimony compounds. The overall rating represents the composite score of these environmental attributes.
AT&T will add the ratings icon to in-store collateral later this year. Consumers will also be able to visit a Web site to obtain detailed information about how AT&T and BSR devised the ratings, learn more about what makes up the overall sustainability scale for mobile devices, and see available products.
More information on AT&T’s Sustainability initiatives is available on the company’s Web site.
