Frequently asked questions
Batteries
-
Battery transport information is available in the Lithium Battery Test Summary and Product Data Sheet for Microsoft products containing lithium batteries.
Download our Lithium Battery Transportation documents
-
In accordance with sub-section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, we have made available a Lithium Battery Test Summary for Microsoft products containing lithium batteries.
Download our Lithium Battery Test Summary
-
Battery specifications are available in the Lithium Battery Test Summary and Product Data Sheet for our lithium batteries.
Download our Lithium Battery Transportation documents
-
Visit our Battery Compliance page for general information regarding Microsoft Device’s batteries.
-
Electronic devices are legally not required to have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), also known as Safety Data Sheets (SDS). We do have a Product Data Sheet for all products containing lithium batteries.
Download our Product Data Sheet for more information
-
Alkaline batteries, also known as dry cell batteries, are not regulated as dangerous goods under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, ICAO Technical Instructions, UN Model Regulations, UNECE ADR, U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR), or IMDG Code.
Requirements set forth in special regulatory provisions, including IATA/ICAO Special Provision A123 and 49 CFR 172.102 Special Provision 130, must be met when shipping alkaline batteries.
Copyright Levy Fees
-
A Copyright Levy Fee is a legally authorized fee added to the price of recordable media, including certain hardware devices, in many European countries. The Copyright Levy Fee must be collected upon the first sale or distribution of the device and remitted to an appropriate in-country copyright collecting society. The Copyright Levy Fee is used to compensate copyright holders for the private copying of their copyrighted materials, including music, movies, and books.
-
The formulas for calculating Copyright Levy Fees vary by country and by specific hardware device.
-
No. Copyright Levy Fees are intended to compensate copyright holders for the private copying of their copyrighted works. Copyright Levy Fee laws authorize the collection fees on hardware products and/or media capable of the private copying and storing of copyrighted works. Blank storage media, USB sticks, computers, and tablets are commonly covered by Copyright Levy Fees. You are advised to check with your legal counsel to determine product scope coverage in countries where you operate.
-
Most European countries have enacted copyright levy laws requiring distributors, retailers, and resellers to collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees to copyright collecting societies. These collecting societies use the collected fees to compensate copyright holders for the private copying of their copyrighted works. If you are a distributor, retailer, or reseller of covered devices, you may have legal obligations to collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees on covered hardware products and/or media.
-
European Union (EU) Directive 2001/29/EC provides EU Member States with the authority to enact laws to compensate right holders for the private copying of their copyrighted works. Most EU Member States have enacted country-specific legislation to establish a Copyright Levy Fee payment scheme to compensate rights holders. No uniform Copyright Levy Fee law applies consistently across EU Member States. A few non-EU countries within the European Economic Area have also enacted legislation. Regarding liability, most laws impose primary liability on the entity that places the covered devices on the local market for distribution or sale; however, you are advised to check with your legal counsel to determine your legal obligations.
-
No. Copyright Levy Fee schemes are not voluntary. If you are a distributor, retailer, or reseller of covered devices, you may have legal obligations to collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees on covered hardware products and/or media. You are advised to check with your legal counsel to determine if you have legal obligations under local law.
-
Effective August 2019, Microsoft and its distribution and retail partners independently collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees based on local copyright levy laws. Distributors, retailers, and resellers may be the primary obligated entities that need to comply with in-country copyright levy laws for the distribution and sale of covered Microsoft branded devices. In such cases, Microsoft partners will need to collect, report, and remit applicable Copyright Levy Fees directly to the local collecting society. Microsoft will collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees only where it has primary legal obligations under local copyright levy laws. If you are a distributor, retailer, or reseller of covered devices in the EU, you may have legal obligations to collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees on covered hardware products and/or media. You are advised to check with your legal counsel to determine your legal obligations.
-
Exemptions to Copyright Levy Fee laws exist but may vary by country. If you are a distributor, retailer, or reseller of covered devices, you may have legal obligations to collect, report, and remit Copyright Levy Fees on covered hardware products and/or media, you are advised to check with your legal counsel regarding possible exemptions that may apply to your distribution or sales of hardware devices in the EU.
-
Energy
-
Microsoft devices comply with the EU Ecodesign Directive for Energy Related Products (2009/125/EC), and its implementing regulations when applicable. Microsoft products also comply with EU Commission Regulation for Standby and Off Mode Power Consumption for Electronic Household and Office Equipment (1275/2008) and US Department of Energy and US state energy conservation standards when applicable. Products that are equipped with external power supplies meet international efficiency requirements. Microsoft is a signatory to the EU’s Game Console Voluntary Agreement. This voluntary agreement commits Microsoft to strive constantly for improved game console energy efficiency.
Learn more on our Energy Efficiency page
-
Devices covered by an ENERGY STAR® specification have been certified to ENERGY STAR®.
Explore the ENERGY STAR® website for more information
-
Yes. We work to improve the energy-saving features of our hardware product portfolio to help our customers save energy. Use of electronic devices inevitably involves energy consumption. Microsoft is committed to reducing the direct effects caused by the energy use of our products, including power supplies and battery chargers.
Our products' energy efficiency
Learn more in the Microsoft Sustainability Report
-
Yes. We've operated as carbon neutral since 2012 and continue to reduce our emissions. We're one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in the United States. We use our campus as a living lab of innovation, always testing new ways to minimize our impact and maximize a positive return for the planet. Microsoft is on track to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030.
Our pledge to cut carbon emissions
-
Yes. Since 2009, Microsoft has made and met a series of commitments to reduce our carbon footprint. In 2020, Microsoft committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030, and by 2050 Microsoft will remove from the environment an equivalent amount to all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975.
Progress toward these targets can be tracked in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and through the Windows and Devices annual Sustainability Report and Microsoft Sustainability blogs.
Our pledge to be carbon negative
Progress on our goal to be carbon negative by 2030 is found in annual sustainability report
Learn about Devices commitment to carbon reduction
Environmental Management
-
Yes, Microsoft Devices operates according to Environmental Principles as part of our environmental management system. Microsoft Devices, guided by its Environmental Principles, conducts its business in compliance with applicable laws and policies—striving to build sustainable products and protect the safety and health of our employees, customers, and the public. By integrating sound environmental practices into all aspects of our supply chain and manufacturing functions, Microsoft empowers every person and organization on the planet to achieve more while protecting our natural world.
Our Devices manufacturing and supply chain environmental principles
Our environmental management system and programs
-
Yes, Microsoft has a documented Environmental Management System (EMS), which is certified by an independent third party as meeting the ISO 14001 standard. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized framework that establishes a process for entities to manage and continuously improve their environmental performance. Microsoft also requires its contract manufacturers and suppliers of critical components to have an EMS in place.
Download our ISO 14001 certificate (PDF)
Our environmental management system and programs
-
Yes. All significant Devices operating locations are ISO14001 certified. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized framework that establishes a process for entities to manage and continuously improve their environmental performance. Through ISO 14001, our customers and other stakeholders receive objective assurance that Devices responsibly manages the environmental compliance and impacts of our devices and packaging.
Download our ISO 14001 certificate (PDF)
-
All significant Microsoft Devices operating locations are ISO 14001 certified. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized framework that establishes a process for entities to manage and continuously improve their environmental performance. Through ISO 14001, our customers and other stakeholders receive objective assurance that Devices is responsibly managing the environmental compliance and impacts of our devices and packaging. The goal is to reduce our most significant environmental impacts in a systematic manner that considers risks and opportunities.
Our environmental management system and programs
-
Yes. At Microsoft Devices our environmental principles include a focus on reduction and disposal of wastes. At our facilities, we reduce and—where possible—eliminate waste through reuse of materials, source reduction, and recycling. In 2020, we announced our goal to achieve zero waste for Microsoft’s direct operations, products, and packaging by 2030. All waste is handled and disposed of through safe and environmentally responsible methods that meet or exceed legal requirements.
-
Yes. Microsoft contracted suppliers are contractually bound to ensure that they and their subcontractors are in conformance with the Microsoft Supplier Code of Conduct, our Social and Environmental Accountability (SEA) specification, and other environmental requirements. These requirements include criteria for minimizing the generation and management of waste. During supplier audits, we evaluate suppliers’ efforts to source responsibly based on the social, environmental, health, and safety opportunities and risks identified in our supply chain. This risk-based approach considers, among other factors, the suppliers’ environmental risks.
Learn more about our key audit and assessment results
Packaging
-
Microsoft is committed to the continual improvement of environmentally sound packaging by signing the Australia Packaging Covenant (APCO) on March 25, 2009. We continued our commitment to the updated Australia Packaging Covenant (APCO) by signing and submitting the APCO Declaration form in August 2010. Microsoft has since expanded the APCO commitment to include all global packaging programs.
Learn more Surface Sustainability
Download our APCO report and action plan (PDF)
-
Microsoft designs its hardware and software packaging to meet global environmental requirements. Microsoft suppliers are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including compliance with the European Union’s Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (1994/62/EC), as amended by 2018/852/EU and CEN packaging standards (EN 13427:2005) as well as US Toxics in Packaging legislation. Packaging for Microsoft products meets heavy metal restrictions, labelling, and essential requirements regarding packaging optimization, manufacturing, composition, recovery, and reuse. The Microsoft commitment to the continual improvement of environmentally sound packaging was initiated when Microsoft signed the Australia Packaging Covenant (APCO) on March 25, 2009 and reinforced when Microsoft signed the APCO Declaration form in August 2010. Microsoft has since expanded the APCO to all global packaging programs.
Learn more on our Packaging page
Recycling
-
We partner with recycling organizations, join forces with collection schemes, and work with our supply chain partners to facilitate the return and end-of-life management process of devices, batteries, and packaging. If you need specific details as to where to recycle these items in your region, please go to the link and select your specific location.
If you need specific details as to where to recycle these items in your region, visit our End-of-life management and recycling page and select your specific location.
-
Yes. Microsoft has a dedicated team that manages the complexity of the return and recycle phase of Microsoft devices, batteries, and packaging. We partner with collection schemes and Microsoft-contracted asset recovery and recycling suppliers and work with our OEM partners to support our customers’ ability to return and recycle our devices, batteries, and packaging. Through our ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, targets are established to minimize environmental impacts posed by devices. Annually, we review our environmental aspects and impacts due to our operations, products, and services, then set targets to minimize significant environmental impacts through implementation of our ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
Learn more about our global end-of-life programs for devices, batteries, and packaging
Restricted substances
-
Microsoft has created several environmental compliance specifications which require our suppliers to meet our restricted substance requirements. The requirements are set by law and Microsoft policy and establish documentation controls for achieving such requirements, as follows:
- Microsoft Restricted Substances for Hardware Products Specification - H00594 (DOCX) - This document provides details about which substances are not allowed in our products, packaging, and supplier manufacturing operations. Microsoft restricted substances are identified based on a scientific approach and the precautionary principle. Where we have reasonable grounds for concern over a chemical’s potential for severe or irreversible damage to health or the environment, we believe actions should be taken to gather and assess additional data. Such investigations may lead to voluntary restrictions beyond legal requirements.
- Restricted Substances Control System for Hardware Products - H00642 (DOCX) - This document contains the required documentation suppliers must provide to demonstrate their adherence to H00594. All suppliers are required to provide full material declarations and other documentation to ensure parts and products supplied to Microsoft meet the requirements of H00594. Having full material declarations allows us to respond swiftly if new concerns arise about any substance, or if the regulatory landscape expands beyond the current Microsoft substance restrictions in H00594.
These specifications are incorporated in our supplier contracts and ensure all parts, components, products, and packaging supplied to Microsoft meet global and Microsoft-specific restricted substance requirements. We use an independent laboratory to complete testing for certain restricted substances in all our hardware products. We use test results to validate supplier material declarations and monitor compliance throughout the product life cycle.
Explore our Materials and substances page
- Microsoft Restricted Substances for Hardware Products Specification - H00594 (DOCX) - This document provides details about which substances are not allowed in our products, packaging, and supplier manufacturing operations. Microsoft restricted substances are identified based on a scientific approach and the precautionary principle. Where we have reasonable grounds for concern over a chemical’s potential for severe or irreversible damage to health or the environment, we believe actions should be taken to gather and assess additional data. Such investigations may lead to voluntary restrictions beyond legal requirements.
-
All Microsoft hardware products comply with the applicable restricted substance requirements of the European Union’s Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive (2002/95/EC) as amended by the EU RoHS Recast Directive (2011/65/EU). The EU RoHS Recast requires self-declaration to RoHS restrictions through the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) process and CE marking.
Delegated Directive 2015/863 (“RoHS3) is an amendment to Directive 2011/65/EU and not a Directive under ROHS. Therefore, the Declaration of Conformity will continue to reference the governing Directive, 2011/65/EU, and not the amendment specifically as it only pertains to the addition of the four substances. The Overall Directive 2011/65/EU includes the existing substances and the amendment, and our compliance letter clearly documents that our products comply with Directive 2011/65/EU, which includes the additional substances as amended by Directive 2015/863.
Download our REACH Article 33 Disclosure on Environmental Compliance (PDF)
-
The European Union’s Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (2006/1907/EC) entered into force on June 1, 2007. Pursuant to Article 33, Microsoft communicates information regarding Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) that are contained in articles in a concentration above 0.1% by weight at the link provided. Article 33 also requires the disclosure of SVHCs contained in products in a concentration above 0.1% by weight to the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database as of January 5, 2021. Microsoft has completed the registration process prior to the deadline and will continue to update SCIP as needed.
Microsoft actively monitors the European Chemical Agency’s SVHC candidate list on an ongoing basis and restricts SVHCs that have been added to the ECHA authorization list through the H00594 specification.
Download our REACH Article 33 Disclosure on Environmental Compliance (PDF)
Explore the ECHA Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database
-
Yes, we do. Please click on the link below to access the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) documents, also known as CE Certification, SoC (Statement of Conformity), or RoHS Compliance Form.
Download an EU Declaration of Conformity for a Microsoft product
Download a UK Declaration of Conformity for a Microsoft product
-
For these two countries only, email inquiries to the Microsoft EMEA - MSC UK/IE team at [email protected].
Sustainability
-
Yes, most devices in scope of the EPEAT eco-rating program are registered to EPEAT. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is managed by the Green Electronics Council (GEC). EPEAT registered products must meet environmental and corporate social performance criteria covering the complete product lifecycle from design to recycling.
Refer to the EPEAT website for more information
-
Yes, most Microsoft computer products are registered to EPEAT.
Refer to the EPEAT website for additional information
-
For those devices where Ecoprofiles are available, they can be downloaded from Microsoft Downloads.
-
The Devices sustainability work is represented in the annual Microsoft Environmental Sustainability Report.
Download our Sustainability Report
Follow Microsoft