Nordic Ecolabelling for Primary batteries Version 5.0 Draft for consultation 25 June 2018 ‒ 12 August 2018 Contents 1 Production and product description 6 2 Resources 7 3 Packaging and information 7 4 Corporate Social Responsibility 8 5 Electrical testing 10 6 Safety 12 7 Waste plan 13 8 Requirements of the authorities and quality requirements 13 9 Changes compared to the previous criteria generation and the three consulting sub processes 15 Appendix 1 Description of the primary battery, material composition and production Appendix 2 Plastic Appendix 3 Packaging Appendix 4 Consumer information on the battery Appendix 5 Analysis and testing laboratories Appendix 6 List of critical raw materials 001 Primary batteries, version 5.0, 25 June 2018 Addresses In 1989, the Nordic Council of Ministers decided to introduce a voluntary official ecolabel, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. These organisations/companies operate the Nordic Ecolabelling system on behalf of their own country’s government. For more information, see the websites: This document may Denmark Iceland only be copied in its Ecolabelling Denmark Ecolabelling Iceland entirety and without any Fonden Dansk Standard Norræn Umhverfismerking type of change. Göteborg Plads 1 á Íslandi DK-2150 Nordhavn Suδurlandsbraut 24 It may be quoted from Tel: +45 72 300 450 IS-108 Reykjavik provided that Nordic [email protected] Tel: +354 591 20 00 Ecolabelling is stated www.ecolabel.dk [email protected] as the source. www.svanurinn.is Finland Norway Sweden Ecolabelling Finland Ecolabelling Norway Ecolabelling Sweden Uhro Kekkosen katu 4-6 E Henrik Ibsens gate 20 Box 38114 FI-00100 Helsingfors NO-0255 Oslo SE-100 64 Stockholm Tel: +358 9 61 22 50 00 Tel: +47 24 14 46 00 Tel: +46 8 55 55 24 00 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.ecolabel.fi www.svanemerket.no www.svanen.se Nordic Ecolabelling 001/5.0 25 June 2018 Introduction to the public consultation process The pre-consultation on reviewing the criteria for primary batteries has been conducted in all Nordic countries in the period from 26 March 2018 to 25 May 2018. The consultation has been divided into three sub processes, each dealing with a specific topic in three individual consultation periods. The three individual topics are: 1. Product definition, use of resources in batteries and packaging 2. Corporate Social Responsibility regarding the sourcing of “conflict-free” minerals, critical raw materials and working conditions 3. Minimum average duration (MAD), battery shelf life, safety and waste handling. Based on feedback from the three pre-consultation periods, Nordic Ecolabelling has drafted a proposal for criteria for Primary batteries, for a final public consulting period from 25 June to 12 August 2018. All changes are marked in red while the removed text is crossed out. The biggest change after the pre-consultation has been to adjust the requirement for delayed discharge performance (O10) from min. 95% to 90%. The requirement has also been adjusted so that it is possible to use the delayed discharge test (high temperature), according to IEC 60086-1:2015 standard, which only takes 13 weeks. Finally, it has been clarified that an independent auditor from a third- party company must confirm that the testing has been carried out in line with the requirement. The requirement to electrical testing (O9) has been adjusted from nine to eight sample sizes. Several of the specific MAD values has also been adjusted. Nordic Ecolabelling is aware that several materials listed in requirement (O7) cannot be phased out of primary batteries to day or in the nearest future. Therefore is has been clarified in the requirement, that the policy shall describe how the licensee works actively to face out the use of critical raw materials in the long term / to recycle critical raw materials in the batteries, support recycling programs for collecting used batteries and minimize the use of limiting minerals in the future. The requirement for consumer information (O5) has been adjusted so it is optional to choose between “date of manufacturing” and “best before” information on the packaging. Finally the requirement for metal content of batteries (O2) has been adjusted from <5,0 ppm to <7,5 ppm lead. In section 9, you find tables showing all the proposed changes in generation 5 of the criteria for Nordic Swan Ecolabelled primary batteries and proposed changes that has been done in the criteria document after the tree pre-consultations. Primary batteries 3 (17) Nordic Ecolabelling 001/5.0 25 June 2018 What is a Nordic Ecolabelled primary battery? The quality (operating time) of Nordic Ecolabelled primary batteries places them amongst the best on the market, which is essential to the environmental profile of the batteries. The longer the operating time, the fewer batteries will need to be used and, accordingly, produced. Strict requirements apply to the information provided to the consumer. Both of these points are intended to ensure that the battery will need to be replaced less frequently, thereby ”sparing” the environment the burden of more batteries. The permitted content of lead, cadmium and mercury is lower than the levels stipulated by the authorities in their requirements. Producers of batteries must demonstrate good corporate social responsibility regarding the sourcing of conflict minerals, as well as critical raw materials and working conditions. Why choose the Nordic Swan Ecolabel? • Licence holders may use the Nordic Swan Ecolabel trademark for marketing. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a very well known and well- reputed trademark in the Nordic region. • The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is a simple way of communicating environmental work and commitment to customers. • The Nordic Swan Ecolabel clarifies the most important environmental impacts and thus shows how a company can cut emissions, resource consumption and waste management. • Environmentally suitable operations prepare primary batteries for future environmental legislation. • Nordic Ecolabelling can be seen as providing a business with guidance on the work of environmental improvements. • The Nordic Swan Ecolabel not only covers environmental issues, but also quality requirements, since the environment and quality often go hand in hand. This means that a Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence can also be seen as a mark of quality. What can carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel? The product group comprises the following products: Portable primary batteries in accordance with the definition given in the European Union’s Battery Directive, 2006/66/EC. The following batteries and electrical appliances cannot be Nordic Swan Ecolabelled according to these criteria: • Rechargeable batteries, for which separate criteria exist. • Batteries that are built into or form a permanent part of electronic products and where replacement of the batteries is not possible. • Car batteries and industrial batteries. Primary batteries 4 (17) Nordic Ecolabelling 001/5.0 25 June 2018 How to apply Application and costs For information about the application process and fees for this product group, please refer to the respective national web site. For addresses see first in this document. What is required? The application must consist of an application form/web form and documentation showing that the requirements are fulfilled. All product types and brands shall be listed in the application. Each requirement is marked with the letter O (obligatory requirement) and a number. All requirements must be fulfilled to be awarded a licence. The text describes how the applicant shall demonstrate fulfilment of each requirement. There are also icons in the text to make this clearer. These icons are: Enclose Requirement checked on site All information submitted to Nordic Swan Ecolabelling is treated confidentially. Suppliers can send documentation directly to Nordic Ecolabelling, and this will also be treated confidentially. License validity The Nordic Swan Ecolabel licence is valid providing the criteria are fulfilled and until the criteria expire. The validity period of the criteria may be extended or adjusted, in which case the licence is automatically extended and the licensee informed. Revised criteria shall be published at least one year prior to the expiry of the present criteria. The licensee is then offered the opportunity to renew their licence. On-site inspection In connection with handling of the application, Nordic Swan Ecolabelling normally performs an on-site inspection to ensure adherence to the requirements. For such an inspection, data used for calculations, original copies of submitted certificates, test records, purchase statistics, and similar documents that support the application must be available for examination. Queries Please contact Nordic Ecolabelling if you have any queries or require further information. See first in this document for addresses. Further information and assistance (such as calculation sheets or electronic application help) may be available. Visit the relevant national website for further information. Primary batteries 5 (17) Nordic Ecolabelling 001/5.0 25 June 2018 1 Production and product description O1 Description of the product The applicant must submit the following information about the product(s): • Brand and trading name(s). • Name and contact details of production location(s) for the manufacture and brand owner(s) of batteries. • Description of the product(s), detailing all constituent substances present in the battery metals, other solid substances and liquid chemical substances) in the