On 24 August 2017, the Atlantic Digital Network (ADN) – the NGO cluster of The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, sent an Open Letter to the European Commission Regarding EU Initiative on Reducing Redundant TV Remote Controls (TVRCs). The letter was signed by Dr. Solomon Passy, President of ACB, Gergana Passy, Digital Champion of Bulgaria and President of PanEuropa Bulgaria, and Bisserka Benisheva, Director for European Affairs of PanEuropa Bulgaria.
The purpose of the open letter was to bring to the attention of the EC the issue of redundant TV remote control (TVRC) handsets used in our everyday life, and to offer a concrete solution, benefiting the European consumers, the environment and the circular economy alike.
“In 2017, the Atlantic Digital Network in Bulgaria sponsored a study, to illustrate the amount of CO2 emissions that could be saved from the production of redundant TVRCs and their components: plastic, batteries and fiberglass. According to the study, if there was a single TVRC compatible with all TV brands and DVD players, we could save approximately 240,718 tons of CO2 emissions, which exceeds 24,5 million gallons of petrol, every 7 years (which is the average life span of a TV set).”
In addition – the letter continues:
- The usage of several TVRCs confuses consumers;
- All of the components are harmful to the environment;
- The eco-design policy of the EU demands to eliminate the least performing products, in line with the energy efficiency objectives.
The Atlantic Digital Network reminds that the “EU circular economy strategy demands to take into account the challenges of e-waste of redundant TVRC’s”. It is ADN’s understanding that “the best option would be to reduce the number of redundant TVRCs by initiating a mandatory common EU standard for manufacturing TV sets, allowing for a new generation of devices that would be operated by a universal and standardised TVRC”.
