EPEAT® establishes criteria that address priority sustainability impacts throughout the life cycle of electronics products, based on an evaluation of scientific evidence and international best practices. While EPEAT Criteria are reviewed on a regular cadence to ensure they remain relevant, continue to be impactful and incentivize leadership performance, GEC may also add new impactful criteria that are time sensitive and address an emerging critical issue or tackle a complex topic.
In this regard, in March 2023, GEC published Criteria for Assessment of Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Modules to supplement the existing EPEAT Criteria for the solar modules and inverters category as specified in Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters (NSF/ANSI 457). These additional criteria were developed based on the principle that the manufacture and procurement of low-embodied carbon photovoltaic modules are critical for achieving net-zero emissions.
When criteria are revised or new impactful criteria added to an existing product category, EPEAT publishes a plan for implementation and the deadline for when Participating Manufacturers must come into conformance with the revisions or new criteria.
The EPEAT Implementation Plan for ULCS Criteria is now available. It applies to all Participating Manufacturers with solar modules currently appearing in the EPEAT Registry, potential applicant Participating Manufacturers, and all GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies. It may also be of interest to purchasers, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders interested in the implementation of the Criteria for Assessment of Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Modules.
For questions about this implementation plan, please contact us at epeat@gec.org.
