WEEE: having proper control over the end of life phase of electrical and electronic products
Introduced in Europe on 13th August 2005, the aim of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive – 2002/96/EC is to reduce the environmental impact of products at the end of their lifecycles by instituting a system whereby the manufacturer takes the product back. The wording of the Community legislation places greater responsibility on the manufacturer. As soon as a product is released on the market, the manufacturer is required to fund or provide a system for collecting products at the end of their life cycles. This directive also imposes WEEE recovery rates on Member States.
Eco-design is one of the ways in which manufacturers can comply with their obligations to assume greater responsibility by improving the recyclability of products by making it possible to dismantle them or by facilitating their reconditioning.
Neopost has complied with the directive since 2005, firstly by recovering all products at the end of their life cycles and implementing the applicable recycling rate of 75% for its mailing solutions (through recycling and improved energy efficiency), and secondly by employing a design process for its products that guarantees a recycling potential of 75% – a commitment that goes beyond the constraints set out in the WEEE Directive in respect of machines in its category (Category 3).
