NEWS RELEASE
Date: 23 November 2007
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Joan Ruddock, Minister for Sustainable Consumption and Production, welcomes collaboration with major retailers
Further incentives to phase out energy-intensive consumer electronics products that cost consumers and the environment dearly will be examined as the result of renewed close co-operation between major UK retailers and the Government, Minister for Climate Change Joan Ruddock said today.
Joan Ruddock said:
“Britain has led the way in phasing out inefficient lightbulbs. I’m proud of this achievement and want to see it taken to a new level with all the electrical products we see in stores.
“In 2006, consumer electronics used 15 per cent of the UK’s total domestic electricity consumption – and this has the potential to double between now and 2020. Switching to more efficient products will make a dramatic difference, both to consumers’ bank balances and to the UK’s CO2 emissions.
“I want to begin the switch off in inefficient products. Our retailers have a crucial role to play in offering greener choices to consumers, and I am greatly encouraged by their clear commitment to work up this initiative.”
The British Retail Consortium, retailers and the Government will work on the details of the Initiative over the next two months.
Hosting the meeting with key names from the UK’s retailers, the British Retail Consortium and energy suppliers, Joan Ruddock emphasised the importance of working with the industry to take forward government plans to improve performance standards, phase out energy inefficient products and promote energy efficient choices to consumers in a drive to slash CO2 emissions by up to 1MtCO2 a year.
Retailers welcomed the work of the Energy Saving Trust, which this year has enabled them to order more energy efficient products, which are now available in stores in time for Christmas. This initiative will aim to set clear targets and retailers will be looking at ways to analyse the energy efficiency of consumer electronic products, starting with set-top boxes and to consider how a significant reduction could be made in stand-by energy use.
The British Retail Consortium offered to lead work in partnership with the Government and the Energy Saving Trust, to develop proposals for an initiative to phase out the least efficient consumer electronics products with the aim of cementing commitments in early 2008.
Recognising the crucial role of manufacturers in this Initiative, Joan Ruddock pledged to convene a summit of manufacturers to build on this commitment. The meeting is planned for January and will be hosted by Intellect, the trade association for the UK technology industry.
Notes to editors
- The Government is keen to aim for a firm agenda to phase out the least efficient consumer electronics products from UK markets, including those which use excessive power in standby, with the aim of significantly reducing carbon emissions from these products over the next four years. If retailers were to adopt the Government's published range of indicative performance standards for consumer electronics a reduction in emissions of up to 1MtCO2 a year would be achieved.
- The British Retail Consortium and leading retailers attended Tuesday’s meeting: Amazon, ASDA, Comet Group, The Co-Operative group, DSG International (Dixons.co.uk/Currys/PC World/Pixmania), Home Retail Group (Argos/Homebase), John Lewis, Marks &Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Woolworths. All the major consumer electronics retailers have been approached and others have indicated that they would consider joining such an initiative. This is an open process reaching out to all retailers, small or big.
- The initiative to phase out inefficient consumer electronic products follows the success of the voluntary initiative to phase out inefficient lightbulbs, announced by Hilary Benn on 27th September 2007 and being led by major retailers and energy suppliers. Both projects reflect energy saving measures for general product policy laid out in the Energy White Paper.
- In the Budget 2006, Gordon Brown, then Chancellor, announced ‘a new initiative, in partnership with major retailers and the Energy Saving Trust, to introduce voluntary schemes in the retail sector, which encourage the purchase of more energy efficient alternatives in consumer electronics.’ Discussions held today are part of this process.
- Progress in the consumer electronics sector will be monitored and reviewed, with a view to annually updating and refining the initiative. This will include providing illustrative performance targets and products standards to support the delivery of the Government’s objectives for energy and for Sustainable Consumption and Production.
- The "One Watt" Initiative was launched by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 1997 with the aim of reducing standby power consumption for new appliances to one watt or less by 2010. At Gleneagles, the G8 - led by the UK - agreed to promote the application of the One Watt initiative and the UK, as well as pressing for regulatory action to achieve this at an EU level, is working with retailers and manufacturers to design out the use of wasteful standby functions and moving to adopt the one watt standard as part of our own procurement policy.
- Defra launched its Act On CO2 carbon calculator www.direct.gov.uk/actonco2 as a public trial version on 20 June. There have been over 300,000 visits so far. The calculator helps people make the link between their own actions and climate change. Individuals or households can calculate the carbon footprint resulting from their home, appliances and personal travel using Government approved data and methodologies. Users can also receive a personalised action plan with tips for reducing their carbon emissions. The calculator takes account of leaving products on standby in its home section.
- Defra will soon be publishing a summary of responses to a public consultation on the Government’s ambitious efficiency standards for consumer electronics products sold and brought into use in the UK. In addition to this, the Government will shortly be publishing for consultation eleven similar papers for a number of other energy-using products, which will set a benchmark for retailers and manufacturers to make firm commitments to improve the performance of products they provide.
- The EU is expected to bring forward its proposals for consumer electronics under the Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (the EUP Directive). Implementing measures will set specific and potentially compulsory standards for several of the least efficient products destined for the European market in order that they meet energy efficiency, as well as other, requirements. Proposals are due to be agreed by the end of 2009.
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Page published: 23 November 2007