Environmental Position

Buffalo Technology recognises that maintaining a healthy environment is vital for a healthy life and sustainable growth for future generations. We are committed to complying with environmental standards and being proactive in dealing with concerns for the environment. These goals are being achieved by combining technological innovation with sound environmental business decisions at every step of a product's life cycle. Our efforts will focus on reducing environmental damage by complying with all applicable regulations in each country.

Packaging &
Packaging Waste

Packaging and
Packaging Waste
Directive (94/62/EC)






In December of 1994, the European Union issued the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste. This Directive aims to harmonise national measures in order to prevent or reduce the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and to ensure the functioning of the Internal Market. It contains provisions on the prevention of packaging waste, on the re-use of packaging and on the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. Each Member State is obligated to adopt measures to meet the requirements set out by the Packaging Directive.

To meet the requirements of this legislation, manufacturers, importers, and distributors must either:

A. Develop and implement their own
     take-back schemes for their product
     packaging; or

B. Join non-profit associations, such
     as the Green Dot program, that are
     established to organise the
     collection, sorting, and recycling of
     used sales packaging. Green Dot is
     currently the standard take-back
     program in 21 European countries.

The Green Dot system is the only initiative that is attempting to provide overall coverage in the EU through one model that fulfills on behalf of obligated parties the requirement to collect and recover their packaging waste. By participating in the Green Dot program, manufacturers are released from the obligation of recovering their own packaging waste.

Buffalo Technology is committed to this scheme and is registering separately in the Green Dot program of each country to which we export, and are paying the required fees as determined by the license agreement.

 

RoHS

RoHS Directive
(2002/95/EC)




The RoHS Directive refers to the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of:

  • Lead
  • Cadmium
  • Mercury
  • Hexavalent chromium
  • Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) flame retardents
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants

The Directive and regulations came into force on 1st July 2006.

All products shipped from Buffalo European distribution centres are compliant with the European RoHS Directive as of July 1, 2006.

 

WEEE

WEEE Directive
(2002/96/EC)











The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) applies to companies that manufacture, sell, distribute, recycle or treat electrical or electronic equipment (EEE), and to consumers within the European Union. Objectives of the directive are:

1. To prevent waste of electrical and
     electronic equipment (WEEE) and to
     promote the reuse, recycling and
     ecovery of such wastes

2. To improve the environmental
     performance of all operators involved
     in the life cycle of electrical and
     electronic equipment, e.g. producers,
     distributors and consumers and in
     particular those operators directly
     involved in the treatment of waste
     electrical and electronic equipment.

The Directive requires producers (manufacturers, distributors and sellers) to:

  • Ensure all consumer EEE imported in to the EC is marked with a recycling logo.
  • Register with the WEEE regulating authority within each member state.
  • Join a recovery and recycling scheme.
  • By December 31, 2006 producers will be required to achieve a series of recovery and recycling targets.

Buffalo Technology Inc. is committed to working with our suppliers, distributors, partners and customers to ensure compliance with the WEEE Directive.

WEEE Registration Numbers

Ireland WEEE

WEEE Registration Number: BUF100

United Kingdom

WEEE Registration Number: WEE/DJ0065TW

Netherlands

Midl BV in care of Buffalo


Recycling Schemes Joined

Country Scheme
Ireland WEEE Ireland
United Kingdom Transform UK
Netherlands ICT Milieu
 

REACH

REACH (1907/2006)








REACH is a European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals entering or within the European Union (EU). REACH places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to the health and the environment.

In principle REACH applies to all chemicals: not only chemicals used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day life, for example in cleaning products, paints as well as in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances.

REACH has several aims:


  • To provide a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.
  • To make the people who place chemicals on the market (manufacturers and importers responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use.)
  • To allow the free movement of substances on the EU market.
  • To enhance innovation in and the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.


REACH came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaces a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system.

For the full list of REACH compliant products please click here.