Press Release: Environment: Commission pilot projects result in industry commitments to make ‘greener’ products

Two European Commission pilot projects to improve the environmental performance of everyday products have resulted in commitments by manufacturers to find new ways to reduce the environmental impacts of mobile telephones and wooden garden furniture. Under the leadership of Finland’s Nokia a wide range of companies have voluntarily committed to take additional steps to cut mobile phones' energy consumption, reduce hazardous materials content, and increase consumer awareness of recycling, France’s Carrefour has committed with other stakeholders reduce the environmental impact of tropical wooden garden chairs through design changes. The implementation of these commitments will be monitored by the Commission, which initiated the projects two years ago. The Commission is now calling on other industries to reduce the environmental impacts of their products in a similar fashion.