Liebherr First in RoHS Compliance Worldwide
Another Significant Environmental Milestone from the Global Leader in Refrigeration
BURLINGTON, Ontario — From June 2007 and onwards, Liebherr will produce all appliances for North America in accordance to RoHS as an important part of its global commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. The RoHS announcement came immediately following Liebherr’s participation in Global Green USA’s Oscar® Party to raise awareness for global warming.
RoHS stands for the “Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.” Liebherr will be the FIRST appliance manufacturer to comply with this practice worldwide, just as they were the FIRST to eliminate CFCs in refrigeration in 1993. Here is the list of major hazardous substances that will not be used in the production of Liebherr products:
- lead (Pb)
- mercury (Hg)
- cadmium (Cd)
- certain kinds of chrome (Cr-VI)
- certain kinds of biphenyl (PBB)
- certain kinds of biphenyl ether (PBBE, PBDE)
“Liebherr has found better, greener ways to produce quality products using materials that are less damaging and have less impact on our eco-systems,” states Marc Perez, Vice President, Liebherr North America. “Liebherr does not want to wait until compliance is mandatory. We want to take action right now,” adds Perez.
RoHS compliance has already become mandatory in Europe and will certainly become mandatory in North America in the next several years. Liebherr chooses to take the leadership role in the North American market by being proactive instead of reactive. By eliminating substances such as lead and mercury, the benefits are far-reaching now and when the product reaches the end of its life and is recycled.
“When designers, architects and consumers strive for healthier buildings and more sustainable design, we want Liebherr to be the first refrigeration product considered,” says Perez. “Our refrigerators not only meet and exceed ENERGY STAR ratings for energy efficiency, but offer a smart solution for climate change and a true respect for our planet.”