Product Environmental Management

Hazardous Substance Free (HSF) Planning

Acer is aggressively promoting the development of environmentally friendly product designs in the hopes of becoming an environmental advocate. We believe that the green product design should contain three key elements – materials, energy and recycling – to develop product with life cycle thinking, therefore, we work in coordination with international mandates, stakeholders and customers to conduct environmentally friendly designs and maximize eco-effectiveness. Based on the precautionary principle and the Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), we have started the first phase of the Hazardous Substance Free (HSF) plan for PVC, BFR and phthalates to alleviate the hazardous problems of waste electronics in recycling stage globally. The key factors for alternative substances is that they must not detrimentally influence new product quality, safety, and reliability, and they must not endanger human health or pose worse environmental impacts.

We are striving to reach the target of prohibiting the use of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), BFRs (brominated flame retardants) and phthalates in all products by 2009 by working with partners and suppliers and through the integration of internal and external resources. Since its inception from 2005, the HSF Plan has completed a number of missions. After HSF pilot runs for many products, most technical problems have been solved; therefore, many HSF products (with BFRs-free PWBs and casings) have been produced and launched to the market. When technologies were ready for a total phasing in of PVC/BFRs-free models in 2009, most key component suppliers delayed because the market and the other major brand companies extended their schedule for phasing in, the suppliers would not phase in without additional cost. This change was far beyond our expectation and interrupted Acer’s commitments to phase in PVC/BFRs-free products. Nevertheless, Acer is still trying to increase PVC/BFRs-free products quarter-by-quarter within business tolerance. It is scheduled in this April that a complete PVC/BFRs-free notebook will be put on the market.

As such, Acer hopes that influential regulations can help to restrict PVC/BFRs; the EU directive RoHS might be the most important one. Regulations to prohibit halogen containing products are now critical. If such a regulation can be predicted, the supply chain and the market will go for non-halogen products before the effective date of regulation. This is the quick solution for widely accepted halogen-free products and for the problem that Acer encountered. To aggressively support organo-Cl/Br-free version of RoHS 2.0 revision, Acer attended the Symposium on Global ICT Environmental Initiatives held by Intel and iNEMI in Brussels on October 27-28, 2009. On November 18 2009, Acer again visited Brussels to attend the public hearing of organo-Cl/Br-free RoHS version 2.0 and conference of Greening Consumer Electronics-from Hazardous Material to Sustainable Solution. We discussed Acer’s determination to support the organo-Cl/Br-free RoHS version with key EU personnel during the visits. And we will keep evaluating the possibility to join other meetings or groups to support the organo-Cl/Br free RoHS.

Although there is lack of regulations and the support from the majority of the market, we still keep our commitment of PVC/BFRs-free products by achievement of technical feasibility. Acer will still strive to cross the cost barriers by technical improvement and economic scale through business partners’ effort in order to speed up the reality of PVC/BFRs-free products. We are communicating the lines of business and the supplier for a practicable schedule. The timeline and the roadmap will be finalized in Q2 2010. In the meantime, we will quarterly announce the breakthrough and the accomplishment of PVC/BFRs-free products on its website or post real time information whenever it is available.

HSF Products

Acer has recently shipped a number of HSF models with better environmental performance in addition to the former HSF models, the models and their status are listed below:

Notebooks:
Following the successful energy saving solution with ‘All Day Power’, we launched new BFRs-/PVC-free models (except AC power cable) – Aspire 3811TZ, Aspire 3811TZG, Aspire 3811T and Aspire 3811TG in January 2010.

To understand the acceptance of the consumers for safe and reliable AC power cable with PVC-free feature but a less smooth surface touch, we will launch the complete HSF model (including AC power cable) in April 2010. The model information will be released later.

LCD monitors:
Most parts like product casing, printed circuit board laminates, connectors and internal cables of the following models are BFRs-/PVC-free.

G24,V174, B174, V194HQ, V194, B193, V194W, B194W, V204H, V224HQ, V224W, B224W, V234H, B234HU, B244W, and V244W.

For new HSF monitor, we will launch the BFRs-/PVC-free model (except AC power cable) in April 2010. The model information will be released later.

Desktops:
For new HSF desktop, we will launch the BFRs-/PVC-free model (except AC power cable) in April 2010. The model information will be released later.

Projectors:
The printed circuit board laminates of models like X1130P /X1230PK /X1161 /X1261 and their successors are BFRs-/PVC-free.

In order to produce environment-friendly products, Acer continuously requests suppliers to produce HSF products with precautionary principles. At present, the target of HSF products is to focus on phasing-out BFRs and PVC. In the future, suppliers will be required to ban the usage of beryllium, antimony and all phthalates. To implement sound management of the products, the strategy of chemicals management will be changed from one-way to two-way communication. That is, on a regular basis, suppliers are requested to report the chemical substance management and the substitution of the environmental sensitive materials for the future.