March 2025 Update
After kicking off the year with the launch of TZE’s 3rd Annual Report, CEPN has continued extending the effort to eliminate workers’ exposure to toxic chemicals in the electronics supply chain. Team members have traveled the globe meeting with stakeholders and partners, worked to revise and advance the Toward Zero Exposure program, and further developed the Chemical Safety Training program.
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CEPN is Seeking Public Comment on TZE Version 3.0 Revisions
Today marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period during which stakeholders are encouraged to submit feedback regarding proposed Toward Zero Exposure (TZE) V3.0 revisions.
These proposed revisions are designed to streamline the TZE Program and align with RBA’s Chemical Management Leadership Program (CMLP) (which is also currently open for public comment – see below in Member News) by focusing on Commitment #1, Eliminate Exposures to Priority Chemicals. These proposed revisions include major revisions, to remove Commitment requirements that will be covered by the CMLP, and minor revisions, to improve readability and to add equivalency for appropriate CMLP requirements.
The public comment period is open from March 6, 2025 – May 5, 2025. We invite those interested to submit their feedback via this Excel Spreadsheet. Please refer to the line numbers in the tracked-changes version of the document.
Send your feedback to info@towardzeroexposure.org with the Subject Line: TZE V3.0 Comments, by 5 pm Eastern Monday May 5th 2025.
CEPN’s Chemical Safety Training Program Completes Beta Testing & New Webpage Launched to Recognize Participating Supplier Facilities
From November 2024 to January 2025 CEPN engaged with facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia to beta test the Chemical Safety Training Program materials and gather learner feedback. We are thrilled to share that we have launched a new webpage to recognize supplier facilities that have completed the training and participated in the beta testing phase.
The program materials are currently being finalized and will be made publicly available in approximately six languages in the 2nd quarter of 2025. We will continue to provide program updates on this webpage.
CEPN’s Chemical Safety Training Program includes readily accessible and deployment-ready process chemical safety and management training modules for both workers and managers throughout the electronics supply chain. This project is funded by a grant from the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS), a program of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. We are so pleased to have been included in their recent newsletter that features highlights of IGS activities from the past year.
Learn more about the Chemical Safety Training Program
Completion of the Updated EPEAT® Criteria by Sustainability Impact Areas
After several years in development, GEC has announced the completion of the updated EPEAT® criteria by sustainability impact areas. These criteria will substantially move the industry forward on its sustainability journey for years to come.
We are pleased that two criteria in the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern module reference CEPN programs and resources – criterion 6.4.1 references and is aligned with Commitment #1 of CEPN’s Toward Zero Program and 6.4.2 references the Process Chemical Data Collection (PCDC) Tool.
GEC is hosting a virtual event on March 25, 2025 (16:00 CET/ 10:00 AM EDT / 7:00 AM PDT) to highlight this next generation of EPEAT Criteria, how they support global policy shifts, and learn what's next.
Register for the virtual event
RBA’s Chemical Management Leadership Program Launched
RBA has recently launched a public comment period of their initial draft Chemical Management Leadership Program (CMLP) (Feb 21 – Mar 21). We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to review and comment. Feedback can be submitted via this CMLP Public Consultation Form.
This is an exciting and important milestone, and we are honored that the Toward Zero Exposure Program served as an inspiration for this important work. The CMLP is a voluntary program that standardizes chemical management practices, allowing companies to demonstrate responsible conduct through transparency, collective action, and ongoing improvement.