​The manufacture, use, and management of electrical products and systems at end-of-life can result in adverse impacts on human health and the environment.  NEMA Member companies have sought to minimize these impacts through environmentally conscious design (ECD) of their products, reducing or even eliminating hazardous materials without compromising product safety and performance. NEMA Members also educate their customers and supply chain partners on proper management of spent products and support recycling programs where appropriate.  ​ 

Because the electrical industry is so diverse, no single approach to ECD or end-of-life management is applicable in all cases. In general, however, NEMA and its Member Companies are committed to technological advances that promote robust economic growth, protect the environment, and contribute to the well-being of the communities and customers they serve. They fulfill this commitment through improvements in energy efficiency, material selection, and product design; longer product lifetimes; packaging innovations; reduced reliance on hazardous substances; and promoting proper end-of-life management.

In addition, NEMA Members strive to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the environment and stand ready to cooperate with—and lend their expertise to—​government authorities at every level in the formulation of environmental policy and regulation. 

Contact Mark Kohorst of NEMA Government Relations for information on the positions and activities of specific NEMA product sections.