Green SupplyLine News: News Source for RoHS, WEEE and Other Environmental Legislation

IBM to spend $1 billion per year on green technologies
The plan, dubbed Project Big Green, could help the typical enterprise realize IT energy savings of 42%, IBM said.

MBO for recycling specialist
M Baker Recycling (MBR) has undergone a management buy out in a deal designed to enable the business to become the premier WEEE recycling facility provider in the U.K.

IT managers have green on their minds, but not on the books
Environmental factors are important in IT planning, a Forrester report shows, but only 25 percent of managers have written green criteria into their purchasing processes, largely due to lack of soup-to-nuts product strategies.

Nokia adds energy saving alerts to mobile phones
With growing energy concerns around the globe, Nokia says it has launched the first mobile phones to include alerts encouraging people to unplug the charger once the battery is full. Nokia estimates this move could save enough electricity to power 85,000 homes a year.

Yamagata launches eco-friendly printing service
Yamagata America has introduced a new Green Printing service that uses 100 percent and 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper. All materials are produced and printed in the United States.

DDP, CLTC partner to develop energy-efficient LED lighting
DDP has partnered with the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at UC Davis, Calif. to support the development and implementation of energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures in general illumination applications.

CSA Medical likes Solectron's lean, green approach
Solectron Corp. will manufacture CSA Medical's CryoSpray Ablation system at its facility in Charlotte, N.C. The companies collaborated on a lean supply chain and manufacturing process and "green" packaging.

Part number changes ahead for lead-free BGAs
iNEMI members are calling for unique part numbers for BGA components to differentiate any lead-free ball metallurgies other than SAC 305 or SAC 405.

PartMiner expands material content database
PartMiner has expanded its CAPS electronic components database with the addition of Joint Industry Guide (JIG) Material Composition Declaration values.

Green nanotechnology is easy, says study
A report on a series of seminars and workshops that focused on making nanotechnology green, given by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, is available today (May 4).

Consumers demand greener products, and tech companies are responding
More U.S. consumers are familiar with the concept of green products and how their actions affect the environment than they were last year, according to a new survey.

TechniData, Sap deliver REACH solutions
TechniData and SAP offer manufacturers integrated software solutions to help meet the new European chemicals directive. These new solutions are being enhanced in parallel with the progressive deadlines set by the REACH regulation.

Steve Jobs affirms Apple's commitment to being green
Apple's announcement of cleaner environmental practices draws praise from former critic Greenpeace.

RoHS and WEEE input needed
IPC is asking the electronics industry for input on the impact of RoHS and WEEE on their businesses for two studies commissioned by DG Enterprises and Industry of the European Commission.

Micro fuel cells to hit mainstream in 2010
Despite a flurry of announcements and investments in micro fuel cells for portable devices, the technology is not expected to become a mainstream product until 2010.

Environmental law firm releases REACH document
White & Case LLP has published a Q&A document about the European Union's Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation, which goes into effect on June 1, 2007.

Congress considering energy technology agency
A proposal for a new government energy research agency patterned after the Pentagon's research office appears to be gaining momentum in Congress.

The wedding of green science and nanotechnology
A new report issued by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies calls for a strong marriage between nanotechnology and green science to build a sustainable society. And it calls on the federal government to do the officiating.

Crutchfield launches online recycling locator tool
Crutchfield has announced a new partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) that will allow the retailer to offer an online tool to help consumers locate electronics recycling facilities.

ICT industry needs to reduce CO2 emissions, says analyst
The information and communications technologies are responsible for about 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to research by Gartner.

ZigBee 'fridge magnet' monitors energy usage
Southern California Edison has demonstrated a ZigBee-based refrigerator magnet as part of a pilot wireless system for monitoring energy usage remotely, and letting customers adjust their usage accordingly during times of peak demand.

Three green tips from Xerox
Xerox is encouraging offices to think "Green at Work" by following three steps - reducing paper use, cutting energy consumption and supporting recycling and remanufacturing.

STMicro energy-saving devices save 2 million barrels of oil
STMicroelectronics calculates more than 2 million barrels of oil saved in 2006 by using its energy-saving devices.

IBM recycled more than 100 million pounds of computer equipment
Annual Earth Day-timed announcement marks the fourth year IBM has decreased the amount of used equipment it placed in landfills.

Aerosol monitor proposed to track exposure to toxic nanomaterials
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars proposes developing a universal aerosol monitoring device to measure the toxicity of and exposure to nanomaterials.

Kemet adds RoHS material declarations at web site
Kemet has added IPC-1752-1 material declarations to its web site, which will cover the company's EU RoHS and lead-free capacitor lines.

Nokia expands take-back and recycling program
Nokia celebrates Earth Day by making it easier to recycle any mobile phone, mobile phone battery or mobile phone accessory, regardless of brand.

DCA offers free English translation of Korea RoHS legislation
Design Chain Associates offers an English translation of Korea's environmental legislation called the Act Concerning the Resource Recycling of Electrical/Electronic Products and Automobiles, also known as Korea RoHS.

Micron rolls low-power DRAMs for data centers
Seeking to reduce the heat in data centers, Micron Technology Inc. rolled out a new line of ultra low-voltage DRAMs. The company is also joining the Green Grid, a non-profit consortium that is driving down energy consumption in data centers.

Maine moves to require cell phone recycling
A Maine legislator says it will be beneficial to keep the toxic chemicals found in cell phones out of the environment.

Cefic clarifies Deca-BDE restrictions proposed by some European countries
Despite the RoHS Directive's Deca-BDE exemption, which allows for continued use of the flame retardant, some countries including Norway and Sweden have previously reported restrictions of Deca-BDE, which is in breach of EU law. Here's clarification about the bans from The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic).

IBM preps 3-D stacks for market
News that IBM Corp. this year will sample its first commercial devices to make direct metal connections between chips marks a small but significant milestone on the road to 3-D packaging. This emerging style of silicon design promises advances in performance, power and cost for a broad array of systems.

Hannover fair sees German automation industry upbeat
At the launch of the Hannover fair, the German automation industry sees continuing growth for the next year. The industry sees a huge potential for electronics-based technologies to improve energy efficiency over many industrial application segments.

Studies warn of nanoparticle health effects
Scientists at the University of California at San Diego and the nearby Veterans Affairs Medical Healthcare System in La Jolla recently concluded that magnetic nanoparticles may be hazardous to your health.

Xerox products meet new EPA Energy Star requirements
Xerox Corporation has announced that more than half of the company's office and production product offerings meet the U.S. EPA's new Energy Star requirements that went into effect on April 1, 2007.