About the Program
The Toward Zero Exposure program was developed by the members and advisors of the Clean Electronics Production Network, a collaborative multi-stakeholder innovation network, uniting diverse stakeholders including electronics industry brands and suppliers, labor and environmental advocates, governments and other leading experts. Learn more about our work in the 4th Annual Report of the Toward Zero Exposure Program.
TZE Program Requirements Updated with Publication of TZE Version 3.1
The streamlined TZE program aligns with RBA’s Chemical Management Leadership Program (CMLP) by focusing on eliminating exposures to Priority Chemicals, verification, and reporting. Version 3.1 incorporates the 3rd Round of Priority Chemicals and adds a streamlined onsite verification option.
TZE can better support progress toward our goal of protecting workers from chemical hazards in the electronics supply chain.
Signatories pledge to take the following actions:
Commitments
Eliminate Exposures to Priority Chemicals
Protect workers from exposure to Priority Chemicals in the electronics supply chain, prioritizing elimination or substitution with safer alternatives and protecting workers until that is achieved
Verify and Report
Ensure progress through verification and annual public reporting.
For more details see Toward Zero Exposure V3.1 Requirements and Verification
Program Alignment and Collaboration
The Toward Zero Exposure Program seeks to align, integrate, support and partner with new and existing electronics industry chemical management leadership programs and other supporting programs using the power of collaboration to protect workers, maintain leadership role and reduce redundancies and duplication for electronics companies.
Alignment and Collaboration Principles
Prevent highly toxic chemicals that are no longer in use from re-entering facilities
Maintain CEPN/TZE program leadership, goals and ensure “alignment up”
Harmonize and align to reduce redundancies and duplication in programs
Collaborate with and support partners who align with CEPN’s shared goals
Prioritize transparency and accessibility for the benefit of all stakeholders
Recognize and honor complementary roles and strengths of different programs
Seek best approaches and methods for integration, including
On-ramps and other formal structures between programs
Mutual exchange between the governing bodies of collaborating programs
Program Purpose
The program is a global collaborative leadership effort to reduce worker exposure to toxic chemicals in the electronics supply chain, with the following goals:
Lead the industry toward zero exposure of workers to toxic chemicals and identify priority chemicals for collective action
Prioritize elimination, and substitution with safer alternatives, to both eliminate hazards and align market signals to encourage chemical suppliers to bring better solutions to market
Avoid more harmful substitutions
Prevent reintroduction of highly toxic chemicals into manufacturing facilities
Protect workers through controls where elimination or substitution is not yet possible
Ensure accountability to workers and the public through verification and progress reporting
Verification
The Toward Zero Exposure program provides Signatories options for verification. Signatories can choose a self-declared or third-party verified track for the first round of priority chemicals. CEPN has partnerships to provide third-party verification support.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information refer to our FAQ document.