Actively acquiring environmental labels from around the world
A yardstick for use when selecting products, and for reducing the overall environmental impact of society
Environmental labels indicate that the selected product shows consideration for the environment, and provide customers helpful information when selecting eco-conscious products. Environmental labels come in three types (Type I, II and III) standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or a compliance label that indicates that the product complies with specific performance criteria.
There are various environmental labels in the countries and regions around the world in which the Brother Group operates. The respective labels (which are based on different eco-conscious requirements and standards) are considered to meet stakeholders' environmental requirements and the basic stance of the Brother Group is to actively acquire the labels in the countries and regions where our products are sold.
Under this policy, the Brother Group prioritized the acquisition of specific environmental labels in various countries, including the Blue Angel, Eco Mark, Nordic Swan Ecolabel, EPEAT, and China's Ten Circle Mark, in both the Brother Group Environmental Action Plan 2018 (2016 –2018) and the Brother Group Environmental Action Plan 2021 (2019 –2021), and has been making efforts to that end.
Below are the main environmental labels acquired by Brother products.
Type I labels
Awarded by third–party organizations based on their unique classifications and judgment criteria
*: Click the above link to visit the Blue Angel site.
The Blue Angel (Germany)
This eco-label is issued by the Federal Environmental Agency, the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labeling, etc.
In July 2008, the MFC-6490CW and DCP-6690CW were the first inkjet All-in-Ones in the world to be certified according to the ink-jet standard of that time.
In January 2017, the standard was revised and upgraded. Brother has been working to comply with the new standard for both new and current products.
Nordic Swan Ecolabel (five Scandinavian countries)
This eco-label is administered primarily by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board, and is used in five Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland).
Twelve Brother models, mainly black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones, received this label for the first time in 2009.
China Environmental Labeling plan (China)
This government-run eco-label (the Ten Circle Mark) is issued by the China Environmental United Certification Center under the jurisdiction of the State Environmental Protection Administration.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones and black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones.
Eco Mark (Japan)
This eco-label is issued by the Japan Environment Association. It is awarded to products that minimize environmental impact and aid environmental protection across their entire life cycle (from production to disposal).
Environmental Choice (New Zealand)
This eco-label was introduced by the national government of New Zealand, and is issued by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones, etc.
Copying machines, printers, fax machines and multifunctional devices. Licence No. 2410083
Green Mark (Taiwan)
This eco-label was introduced in Taiwan by the Environmental Protection Administration, and is issued by the Environment and Development Foundation.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones, black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones, and consumables.
Korea Eco-label (South Korea)
This eco-label is issued by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute that was established in accordance with the Development of and Support for Environmental Technology Act.
Brother has acquired this label for laser/inkjet All-in-Ones.
Type II labels
Self-declared labels by businesses
Brother Green Label (Japan)
In October 2001, Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) established voluntary environmental standards for products and created the Brother Green Label to recognize products that satisfied related certification standards.
Type III labels
Awarded to products whose environmental load is shown quantitatively by LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
System certification
PA-590000-AI-03
EcoLeaf (Japan)
This eco-label is awarded to products that disclose quantitative information about their environmental characteristics. It is managed and issued by the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO) of Japan.
Having begun its efforts in 2002, BIL has received System Certification* for printers and facsimiles. BIL is currently working on acquiring the EcoLeaf label for main Brother products. (EcoLeaf has been merged with the CFP Communication Program and is being managed as the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling Program. In 2019, EcoLeaf's management organization split off from the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry to become independent SuMPO.)
- Examines whether the system for calculation, verification, and disclosure/application built inside a business that wishes to acquire the label meets the requirements, and issues certification if it does.
(Link to the website of "EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling Program.")
Conformance label
International ENERGY STAR Program (the U.S., Japan, Canada, and Taiwan)
This is an international energy saving program for office equipment. Its logo is awarded to products that meet the energy-saving standards.
Energy Conservation Certification (Energy saving label) (China)
This eco-label is from China. It recognizes products for their energy-saving performance.
Environmental assessment system
EPEAT (in the U.S.)
This is an environmental rating system for electronic products that is managed and administered by a NPO, the Green Electronics Council.
Compliance evaluations* of the entire product life cycle are performed using the EPEAT criteria that are based on current environmental laws and regulations. EPEAT criteria consist of required and optional ones; products are ranked Gold, Silver, or Bronze depending on the level of conformity with the optional criteria.
In December 2017, nine models including MFC-L2750DWXL became the first laser products to be registered as Silver products.
- Judgments are based on laws and regulations, etc. in respective countries and regions. Thus, the same product may have different ranks
Green procurement laws
Products complying with the Act on Promoting Green Procurement (Japan)
In April 2001, the Act on Promoting Green Procurement came into effect.
This law requires that national governmental organizations and independent administraive institutions purchase green products, and that local public organizations and private businesses as well as individuals try to do the same.
By affixing our own eco-label to Brother products that meet the standard, BIL is promoting environmental activities to customers.
