by Brianna Crandall — February 28, 2011—UL Environment Inc., a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), announced February 14 that it has issued its first-ever Gold-level Sustainable Product Certification (SPC) for the laptop category to the Lenovo ThinkPad T420 laptop, scheduled to be launched later in 2011. The UL Environmental SPC Gold certification indicates a product has met the most stringent and prestigious of three levels of compliance in the industry-wide sustainability standard for laptops, IEEE 1680.1.
UL Environment tested the ThinkPad T420 to IEEE 1680.1 criteria including reduction or elimination of environmentally sensitive materials in product and packaging, energy conservation, end-of-life management, and corporate environmental practices. UL Environment notes that the market for more eco-friendly laptops is growing due to consumer preference, energy regulations, and corporate sustainability practices.
During the testing process, UL Environment assessed product documentation and records, physically examined product samples, independently tested the product for compliance to ENERGY STAR 5.0 requirements, and conducted onsite audits of manufacturing facilities.
