CFL Mercury Commitment

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On October 4, 2010, the NEMA Lamp Section announced a new voluntary Commitment to cap the mercury content of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that its member companies offer for sale for typical residential use in the United States. Under the terms of the Commitment, participating companies will cap, effective immediately, the average mercury content of CFL models of less than 25 watts at 4.0 milligrams (mg) per lamp. CFL models that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will have average mercury content capped at 5.0 mg per lamp.

The new Commitment builds upon the NEMA companies' original voluntary commitment, launched in March 2007 (see below). An updated version of the NEMA LL-8 standard is expected to be published soon.

The participating companies in the 2010 Commitment are listed here. Click on the company name to access its declaration.

Click here to access the 2010 Commitment Form for non-NEMA companies.

2007 NEMA Voluntary Commitment on Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Last Updated 18 August 2011 9:15 AM

What Is This?

As a result of discussions between representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and member companies of the Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), NEMA is initiating this voluntary commitment program and is making it available for use by all CFL manufacturers (who sell or make available for sale in the United States) of self-ballasted CFLs that agree to abide by the requirements of this program. This commitment has been translated into a NEMA standard. Click here for more information on NEMA LL-8. To download a copy of the standard, click here.

Under the voluntary commitment, effective April 15, 2007, participating manufacturers will cap the total mercury content in CFLs at less than 25 watts at 5 milligrams (mg) per unit. CFLs that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will have total mercury content capped at 6 mg per unit.

Click here to access the March 13, 2007 press release announcing the commitment.

Why?

Utilities, environmental groups, energy- efficiency consortia, and other stakeholders have recently expressed concerns that CFL penetration could be negatively impacted due to the presence of mercury in CFLs. Since CFLs are an environmentally preferable product from a total mercury life-cycle point of view, as a potential issue. The two key responses are then to: a) limit the total mercury content of CFLs, and b) ensure that CFLs are managed in an environmentally responsible manner at end of life.

This commitment is the latest step in the industry’s efforts to reduce mercury content and is consistent with NEMA's Call to Action on hazardous substances.