Mercury-free light sources

Labelling

If a supplier uses an ecolabel to prove that the requirement is met, it must be ensured that there is a valid license, certification or equivalent for the product in question. It can be checked here: TCO Certified.

Technical documentation

If the supplier uses other documentation, such as technical documentation, in order to verify that mercury is not used in any light sources, the documentation should be checked.

This requirement is met, for example, by large format displays with LED backlighting, a technology that is widely available on the market. LED light sources do not contain mercury.

The RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU (RoSH stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances) prohibits the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. Mercury is one of the substances that is prohibited. However, RoHS allows for some exceptions (Annex III to RoHS), such as light sources. It is therefore still appropriate to require that light sources must not contain mercury.

Mercury is very toxic and also bioaccumulative, which means that the substance can be absorbed and concentrated inside the bodies of living organisms. Mercury and its compounds have mostly negative effects on for example the nervous and reproductive systems. Mercury can accumulate along the food chain, such as in fish etc.

The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.