Toshiba e-STUDIO Products Secure World's Top Environmental Standard

Ten of Company’s Multifunction Products Attain Exclusive EPEAT Gold Rating for Electronics

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. recently announces that 10 of its e-STUDIO multifunction products (MFPs) have secured the top global environmental standard for electronics, the EPEAT Gold rating. EPEAT’s Gold rating represents the world’s most elite standard for greener electronics, with Silver and Bronze being the other levels established by the Green Electronics Council, the Oregon organization managing the ratings system. EPEAT is the definitive global rating system for greener electronics.

Thirty-nine of Toshiba’s industry-recognized e-STUDIO products now meet EPEAT’s top two environmental standards (Gold and Silver). The EPEAT rating system evaluates an electronic product’s environmental standing in areas such as recyclability, the reduction/elimination of toxic materials, energy conservation, packaging and consumables. Products attain a Bronze rating by meeting more than two dozen required criteria. Devices that earn a Silver or Gold rating have met an additional number of optional criteria.

“I applaud Toshiba American Business Solutions for attaining the highest environmental standards for electronics, the EPEAT Gold rating,” said Congresswoman Mimi Walters.

To attain an EPEAT Gold rating, an imaging device must meet all 33 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the 26 optional criteria. As of today, a mere 20 percent of all EPEAT-registered imaging products had achieved a Gold rating.

“Toshiba continues to rise in global product leadership with the announcement of its newest EPEAT Gold-rated devices,” said Robert Frisbee, Green Electronics Council Chief Executive Officer. “An EPEAT Gold-rated product represents the best of the best in environmental leadership. Attaining that mark shows Toshiba’s dedication to environmental excellence.”

EPEAT is used as an environmental purchasing requirement by eight national governments, including the United States, and is integrated into hundreds of municipal, educational, healthcare and enterprise IT contracts worldwide. The rating criteria were developed during a four-year stakeholder consensus process that involved hundreds of representatives from the environmental, research, governmental and manufacturing sectors.

“The entire Toshiba team – from R&D and engineering to sales and marketing – is sincerely excited about the wide array of e-STUDIO MFPs becoming EPEAT Gold registered,” said Tom Walter, vice president of distribution and aftermarket sales for Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. “Coupled with the inherent ecological benefits customers receive by purchasing our EPEAT-registered products, organizations derive a definitive cost savings. Moreover, considering our company was founded on the principle of nurturing and maintaining a healthy and sustainable planet, it was imperative for our products to attain the world’s most exacting eco standard.” The following Toshiba products are EPEAT Gold registered:

About EPEAT
EPEAT is the definitive global registry for greener electronics. The registry includes the most products from the broadest range of manufacturers and spans the widest array of countries. EPEAT combines strict, comprehensive criteria for design, production, energy use and recycling with ongoing independent verification of manufacturer claims. More than 533 million EPEAT-registered products have been sold worldwide since 2006, resulting in significant environmental benefits. EPEAT was developed through a stakeholder consensus process and is managed by the Green Electronics Council, a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit epeat.net.

About Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc.
Irvine, Calif.-based Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc., is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company and the world’s eighth-largest integrated electronics manufacturer. TABS provides printing, scanning and copying solutions, managed document services and digital signage for businesses of all sizes.

The company’s award-winning e-STUDIO copiers and printers provide quality performance with the security businesses require. Complementing its hardware offering is a full suite of document workflow, capture and security services including Encompass, the company’s industry-acclaimed Managed Print Services program. Encompass enables clients to print less and optimize workflow while improving energy efficiency.

TABS’ Ellumina digital signage offering includes all of the hardware, software and services needed to implement both static and interactive digital signage installations. TABS provides content creation and management, displays, integration, installation and project management services as well as financing for solutions ranging for a single screen to the biggest arenas and stadiums.

TABS is comprised of five divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; the International Division; and Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of office equipment dealers located throughout the United States.