Terms of reference for Eco Environmental Product Standards Group (EEPS)
Environmental affairs (WG-EEPS)
EEPS WG provides support to TC-EE in the analysis of European environmental legislations, in terms of ecological aspects, and environmental impact assessment [1] of ICT equipment and infrastructures.
[1] Environmental impact referred in TC-EE covers the combination of climatic, physical, chemical, and biotic conditions that may affect the growth and welfare of organisms and nature conservation. They may also include aspects of eco-design.
ICT mobile devices and power supply interface systems are not in the scope of EEPS WG, as they are covered respectively in EE M-ICT WG and EE2 WG.
In addition, EEPS WG establishes and maintains cooperation with relevant CEN/CENELEC TC’s and the European Commission on the development of ecological environmental related product deliverables (e.g. standards or technical reports) applicable to ICT infrastructures and equipment.
Responsibilities of EEPS WG include activities and deliverables on:
- Reduction of energy and resource consumption: developing metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for environmental efficiency, particularly in terms of water and energy efficiency in ICTs, including data centers with the aim to reduce the use of energy or natural resources
- Assessment methodologies for material efficiency and circularity: developing methodologies for assessing the material efficiency and circularity of ICT products, networks and services; this includes guidance the upgrades and replacements of key elements of existing ICT network infrastructure to achieve higher environmental efficiency and lower material usage.
- Design guidelines and methodologies to reduce e-waste associated to ICT equipment
- Energy efficiency solutions: utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to improve energy efficiency of ICT solutions.
- Use of renewable energy sources: study the effects of the use of renewable energy sources to power ICT equipment and the assessment of the environmental impact.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Developing methodologies for assessing the environmental impact of ICT product networks and services.
- Assessment methodologies of ICTs enablement effect: Assessing how the use of ICT solutions impacts Green House Gas (GHG) emissions of other sectors.
- Digitalization of Product Environmental Information (Digital Product Passport): Providing solutions and information, in coordination with CEN/CENELEC relevant TBs (e.g. JTC24), for implementing DPP’s that cover the environmental performance of ICTs, including facilities for ICT equipment, and solutions.
- Sustainability aspects: considering the sustainability implications and possible KPIs related to ICT products, networks, services, and installations.
- Artificial Intelligence and computing Environmental efficiency: considering the Environmental efficiency (energy and GHG emission) of Software, computing and AI applications including Data Center
- developing ETSI deliverables within the scope of TC-EE specific to Mobile ICT devices as defined above
- analysing relevant European environmental legislation, in terms of ecological aspects, and assessing their impact on Mobile ICT devices.
- supporting TC-EE in the establishment and maintenance of liaisons with other ETSI TB’s (e.g. DECT, MSG), relevant CEN/CENELEC TC’s, 3GPP, ITU-T SG5 and the European Commission on the development of ecological environmental related product deliverables applicable to Mobile ICT devices. Other organisations for which cooperation is required for the production of deliverables on ecological aspects may be identified.