PE INTERNATIONAL supports its clients in the implementation of new requirements, such as WEEE and ROHS, and assists in actions regarding enforced product stewardship:

• The directive for regulating treatment, recycling and disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) was adopted in February 2003. It will be translated into national law by August 2004. The financial obligation for the manufacturer take-back system is set to start in August 2005. The collection target of 4 kg per citizen per year will be come obligatory from December 2006.
• The Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) directive was adopted in February 2003. The ban on the materials mercury, cadmium, lead, chrome VI, PBB and PBDE will be enforced from July 2006.

PE INTERNATIONAL has conducted environmental appraisals and life cycle assessments in the following areas:

• etch&print processes for printed circuit boards
• solder paste manufacture
• assembly line with reflow oven or wave solder bath
• passive components, from resistors to capacitors
• active components such as ICs
• mounted rinted wiring boards and substrates (e.g. epoxy based, ceramics or flex boards)
• electronic products from the information and telecommunications technologies (ICT) and the automobile industries (e.g. automotive control units, mobile phones, PCs and PC components) as well as from power electronics.