Orange and WWF France introduce an eco-rating system for fixed and mobile phones

* This initiative is an important part of a partnership signed between Orange and WWF France in March 2008 that aims to speed up the implementation of the Group’s environmental strategy, which was initiated in 1996.
* With this environmental rating system, Orange is stating its desire for transparency in the marketing of its products.
* From mid-October, around thirty products will benefit from the eco-rating system, which can be consulted on www.orange.fr and is indicated in Orange shops across France.

WWF and Orange are taking pioneering action
Orange and WWF France have opted to evaluate the environmental performance of products in order to reduce their impact on the environment. The system aims to increase awareness in a fully transparent manner across the industry: among suppliers and operators, as well as for consumers. Customers in particular receive guidance that enables them to take a responsible decision when making their purchases. The eco-rating system developed for Orange telephones is similar to the approach already used in the automobile and domestic electrical appliance sectors and is a first in the telecoms sector.

The eco-rating system will be launched in October 2008 and will be applied across all products in 2009
From mid-October 2008, this rating system will be launched for around thirty products in all Orange distribution channels: information displays, screens in network shops as well as on www.orange.fr.

The widespread application of the eco-rating system will be effective by mid-2009, by which time it will be enriched with analyses and remarks resulting from Orange’s cooperation with WWF France.

Five indicators to measure environment impact
The system is deliberately simple, clear and informative. Each product is assessed according to five indicators measuring their impact on the environment over their overall life cycle.

The environmental performance of a product is assessed in relation to the performance of other products in its domain; for example, a mobile phone is compared to another mobile phone.

These indicators complete other technical characteristics already provided by Orange, such as the specific absorption rate (SAR), the maximum level of exposure to radio waves.

The indicators:
The “CO2 assessment” indicator measures the quantity of greenhouse gas emitted in the main stages of the product’s life-cycle: manufacture, transport, use…

The “energy efficiency” indicator assesses the consumption of energy when the product is used and the functions that enable consumption to be reduced.

The “resource preservation” indicator reflects the efforts made to limit the use of non-renewable materials or materials originating from sensitive economic / social environments (such as gold or tantalum) in the composition of the product.
* The “limitation of dangerous substances” indicator measures the level of chemical compounds in the product. Reducing these compounds is important in order to minimize the risk to humans and the environment that can result if the product is disposed of or recycled in poor conditions.

The “waste reduction” indicator measures the level of waste generated by the terminal and its packaging. It takes into account factors such as the composition, service life, repairability and recyclability of the product.

A system based on the expertise of a recognised player: BIO Intelligence Service
Orange and WWF France contacted BIO Intelligence Service, a company recognised for its expertise in assessing the environmental performance of products and defining indicators and comparative evaluation systems.

The WWF France and Orange partnership
The partnership was set up in March 2008 and is based on concrete actions and measurable results such as recycling, the eco-design of its shops and products, educating consumers and staff in “green behaviour” and reducing the consumption of paper.

*environmental information
[product name]

* Co2 assessment: xx kg CO2 equivalent (production, transport, use, …)
* energy efficiency
* resource preservation (sensitive, non-renewable)
* limitation of dangerous substances
* waste reduction

better for the environment