Comprehensive environmental and social criteria with direct impact
Criteria in TCO Certified drive social and environmental responsibility in four key areas: climate, substances, circularity and supply chain. The scope and level is the same for all markets, and certificates are valid globally. The criteria are continuously developed, in line with our Roadmap for Sustainable IT.
IT brands are incentivized to implement emission-reduction activities that go beyond industry standards. Verified best practices are shared with other brands to speed up the pace of change.
The issue we want to solve
Most greenhouse gas emissions associated with an IT product occur before it reaches its first user. Scope 3 emissions, which include material sourcing, production and shipping, typically account for around 80 percent of total emissions. Therefore, merely improving product energy efficiency is not enough — to effectively reduce the climate impact of IT products, scope 3 emissions must be brought down.
How the criterion works
IT brands must take concrete, measurable actions to reduce scope 3 emissions connected to the certified IT products they produce. To speed up the pace of change, we collect verified best practice activities and share with other brands, along with instructions for how to implement them. Gradually, the reduction requirements will get stricter to ensure that the climate impact of certified IT products is minimized.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Sourcing certified IT products lowers overall emissions from the IT products you buy and use. You also drive IT brands to develop and invest in carbon-reducing activities that go beyond industry standards and are independently verified to be impactful.
To help increase renewable energy production, IT brands must purchase renewable electricity equivalent to 15% of their own consumption in final assembly factories. Purchases must be made using accredited systems.
The issue we want to solve
Producing an IT product involves numerous energy-intensive processes and many manufacturing facilities rely heavily on fossil fuels. To lessen the climate impact, we must reduce this dependence and shift to renewable energy sources.
How the criterion works
IT brands with certified IT products must take concrete steps to transition away from fossil fuels. To increase the demand for renewable energy in the markets where the majority of lifetime emissions occur, IT brands must purchase renewable electricity equivalent to 15% of their own consumption in final assembly factories. Mandatory use of accredited systems and independent verification of the factories' energy reporting ensures real impact.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Using TCO Certified gives you access to IT products with a lower climate impact. By joining other organizations and standing behind our climate criteria, you help accelerate the shift to renewable energy in IT manufacturing. Your support influences the IT supply chain and helps drive the transition to renewable energy where it is most needed.
Final assembly factories and display panel factories must have management systems for the environment (ISO 14001), and energy management (ISO 50001).
The issue we want to solve
IT manufacturing is linked to several environmental concerns, such as substantial greenhouse gas emissions, excessive consumption of natural resources, air and soil pollution, and waste generation. Without structured management systems, factories may lack effective processes to address these challenges systematically.
How the criterion works
Final assembly factories and display panel factories with certified products must follow the internationally recognized standards ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO50001 (energy management). This way, we ensure that factories have structured processes for driving continuous improvements for reducing their environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and complying with environmental regulations.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers support a systematic approach to environmental improvements. It helps you identify products with lower emissions, improved resource management, and a smaller environmental footprint.
To significantly reduce annual emissions, products must be designed for a longer lifespan and supported with a warranty and free security and functionality updates for at least five years.
The issue we want to solve
The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from IT products occur during manufacturing. Therefore, it's crucial to use products for as long as possible before replacing them. Unfortunately, many IT products are discarded long before they reach the end of their useful life due to expired warranties, lack of software updates, or security concerns.
How the criterion works
We require that every certified product is supported for at least five years. This includes access to longer product warranties and free security and functionality updates throughout this period. We calculate the annualized carbon footprint for each certified product model to highlight the reduction in climate impact associated with using products longer.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Knowing that products get the support they need to remain secure and functioning allows you to implement longer procurement cycles and extend product lifespans. This results in lower costs, reduced waste, and a significant decrease in climate impact.
Products must meet the latest energy efficiency standards of Energy Star® or equivalent, and external power supplies must comply with the International Efficiency Protocol.
The issue we want to solve
IT products use energy every second they are used. With an energy-inefficient product design, consumption is unnecessarily high. Power is wasted, leading to increased electricity costs and higher greenhouse gas emissions.
How the criterion works
Certified IT products must adhere to strict energy efficiency requirements (Energy Star® or equivalent), reducing power usage during active mode, standby, and charging. Additionally, external power supplies must comply with the International Efficiency Protocol to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted as heat.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Choosing IT products that are independently verified to be energy efficient helps you lower electricity costs, extend battery life, and reduce the climate and other environmental impacts.
Packaging containing more than 20% plastic by weight must include at least 50% post-consumer recycled content. All parts weighing more than 25 grams must be separable without using tools.
The issue we want to solve
Millions of tons of plastic and styrofoam packaging pollute our planet every year. These materials are used briefly but have a lasting impact on the environment. Their production is associated with greenhouse gas emissions and unsustainable consumption of valuable resources, including oil and other fossil fuels.
How the criterion works
If the packaging of a certified IT product contains more than 20% plastic, at least half of that plastic must be made from post-consumer recycled materials. To facilitate recycling, all packaging parts weighing more than 25 grams must be easily separable by hand, without using tools.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By using TCO Certified in procurement, you help drive the development of a circular economy and promote the use of post-consumer recycled materials in packaging. This helps to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.
Substances are risk-assessed by independent toxicologists, and safer alternatives are presented on the publicly available TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.
The issue we want to solve
With around 350,000 substances available on the market, it is impossible to assess them all. Once a substance is found to be of high risk, restrictions are often regional and in countries where they are not yet banned, substances can continue to be used. Another big problem is unsafe substitutions — banned substances often are replaced with similar ones, that may pose the same or even greater risks.
How the criterion works
We want to ensure that only safer alternatives replace known and unknown hazardous chemicals, whilst IT products continue to meet strict electrical safety standards. Therefore, we consider all non-assessed substances a high risk until they have been scientifically tested and approved as safer alternatives. Once verified by an independent toxicologist, substances are added to TCO Certified Accepted Substance List. This list is public and open to anyone and can be used to drive the use of safer substances across all industries.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Buyers of certified products can avoid the risks of hazardous substances in the supply chains, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while supporting safer and more sustainable IT products. The risk of toxic pollution and other environmental risks are reduced and recycling of more products and materials is made possible.
For more than 25 years, cadmium, mercury, halogenated flame retardants, lead and chromium have been banned from certified products and their packaging.
The issue we want to solve
IT products may contain hazardous substances that pose risks to human health, the environment, and worker safety. These substances also hinder safe recycling and circularity.
How the criterion works
For over 25 years, our restriction criteria have exceeded regulatory requirements, globally prohibiting cadmium, mercury, halogenated flame retardants, lead and chromium in certified products and their packaging.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, you help remove toxic substances from the supply chain, resulting in safer products, easier recycling, and a reduced impact on both humans and the environment.
Flame retardants, plasticizers and stabilizers can only be used if they have been independently verified as safer alternatives, and placed on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.
The issue we want to solve
Hazardous substances are used in IT manufacturing, posing risks to human health and the environment. Legislation lags behind and often leads to banned substances being replaced with alternatives that may be equally toxic, or even more harmful. To break this cycle, we must consider all substances a high risk until proven to be otherwise and show the industry that viable, safer alternatives are available.
How the criterion works
With TCO Certified, independent toxicologists evaluate a substance's potential impact on human health and the environment. Safer substances are added to the publicly available TCO Certified Accepted Substance List and can be used in the manufacturing of certified products. The list is dynamic and can be updated based on new scientific findings.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Buyers of certified products can avoid the risks of hazardous substances in the supply chains, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while supporting safer and more sustainable IT products. This reduces the risk of costly product recalls, enables easier recycling, and contributes to a healthier environment.
Cleaners and solvents used in manufacturing must be approved as safer and listed on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List. Workers must receive risk training and protective equipment.
The issue we want to solve
Highly toxic process chemicals used in IT manufacturing pose significant risks to workers and persist in the environment. Long-term exposure can cause serious health issues. To reduce the risks, we need to eliminate these hazards.
How the criterion works
Before cleaners and solvents can be used on production lines for certified products, they must be assessed as safer by independent toxicologists. Approved substances are added to the publicly available TCO Certified Accepted Substance List. To minimize exposure, we also require that workers receive thorough training on how to handle hazardous substances and get access to protective equipment.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Buyers of certified products actively support safer supply chains and responsible chemical use. By including TCO Certified in procurement, you ensure that IT manufacturers must prioritize worker health and environmental protection.
We continuously gather information to find safer alternatives to additional high-risk chemical categories. Currently, IT brands must report their use of adhesives and lubricants in manufacturing.
The issue we want to solve
Highly toxic chemicals in IT manufacturing endanger workers and persist in the environment. To combat this, we must continually expand TCO Certified Accepted Substance List with new categories of substances and product parts.
How the criterion works
We’re currently preparing for the next steps in chemical safety by requiring that IT brands report their use of adhesives and lubricants in manufacturing. Going forward, we will guide manufacturers toward viable safer alternatives to ensure long-term protection for human health and the environment.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers actively support safer supply chains and responsible chemical use. Our certification drives manufacturers to prioritize worker health and environmental protection. By requiring the reporting and use of only proven safer alternatives, we show that a more sustainable industry built on chemical safety and transparency is possible.
The IT brand must support the products it manufactures for at least five years by providing product warranties and free security and functionality updates.
The issue we want to solve
Many IT products are discarded long before the end of their useful life due to expired warranties, lack of software updates, or security concerns. This is unfortunate because the majority of a product's climate impact and other sustainability effects occur during the manufacturing process.
How the criterion works
We require that every certified product is supported for at least five years. This includes access to longer product warranties and free security and functionality updates throughout this period. We calculate the annualized carbon footprint for each certified product model to highlight the reduction in climate impact associated with using products longer.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Knowing that products get the support they need to remain secure and functioning allows you to implement longer procurement cycles and extend product lifespans. This results in lower costs, reduced waste, and a significant decrease in climate impact.
Products must pass durability and extreme temperature tests to ensure that they are designed for a longer life.
The issue we want to solve
Every year, millions of IT products fail prematurely due to issues like cracked screens, faulty hinges, or worn-out components, leading to e-waste and expensive replacements. To address this, we have established strict durability criteria for certified products.
How the criterion works
Before a product is certified, it must undergo comprehensive durability testing. These tests simulate real-world conditions by evaluating the device’s ability to withstand drops and operate reliably under high and low temperatures.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Investing in durable products leads to fewer replacements, reduced costs, and a smaller e-waste footprint. Keeping products longer helps you save money while reducing your climate impact and other environmental impacts.
The battery must maintain good quality through many charging cycles and be replaceable using common tools, or tools provided for free with the product. Replacement instructions must be freely accessible.
The issue we want to solve
Batteries are typically the first components to fail in IT products. As they degrade, devices become less effective, and they are often replaced. This contributes to the e-waste problem, generates unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, and leads to the overuse of natural resources.
How the criterion works
Certified mobile products must have high-quality batteries that are designed to last. These batteries undergo extensive testing to ensure their performance and longevity. When a battery eventually needs to be replaced, it must be easy to remove, allowing the device to continue functioning effectively.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
High-quality batteries mean that devices can be used longer. Fewer product replacements lead to lower costs, reduced climate impact, and less e-waste.
An independently verified repairability score indicates how easy it is to maintain, reuse, and repair the product, covering disassembly, spare parts, repair instructions, and software updates.
The issue we want to solve
Many mobile devices break and become waste because the lack of spare parts, repair guides and affordable repair options make them difficult to repair. To address this problem, we introduced the repairability index for mobile devices.
How the criterion works
Certified mobile devices receive an independently verified repairability index score based on objective assessments of factors such as spare parts availability, ease of disassembly, access to repair manuals, and software support.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Buyers and users can easily identify product models that are more repairable, which reduces costs and e-waste. By empowering more sustainable choices, IT brands are encouraged to design more sustainable and repair-friendly devices.
The IT brand must provide service manuals explaining how to carry out component replacements free of charge.
The issue we want to solve
Many IT products are designed to be disposable. A single faulty component—such as a keyboard, battery, or memory module—can cause the entire device to be discarded unless the component can be replaced.
How the criterion works
Certified products must include free service manuals provided by the brand owner. These manuals should explain how to replace key components such as batteries, storage, and memory—making repairs easier and accessible to anyone who wants to fix their device.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
For purchasing organizations and users, the ability to replace essential components means that products can be used for a longer time. This has several positive impacts, such as reduced climate impact, a more responsible use of natural resources, lower costs, and less electronic waste.
Software that removes data from devices must be available free of charge.
The issue we want to solve
Every year, millions of IT products are left in storage or are discarded due to concerns that the data stored on these devices may fall into the wrong hands. This results in unnecessary environmental impacts that could be avoided if products were repurposed or given a second life.
How the criterion works
Personal data must be possible to remove from certified products in a secure way, free of charge. This way IT products can get a second life instead of being left unused or discarded.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
A longer product life leads to less e-waste, lower climate impact and a more responsible use of resources. It’s also a smart business strategy. Ensuring secure data removal makes it easier to resell products, which can generate additional income.
Certified products must be marked with a unique product identifier, enabling digital product passports and the transition to more circular practices.
The issue we want to solve
Every year, millions of IT products reach the end of their life—but without proper identification, many can’t be repaired, reused, or recycled effectively.
How the criterion works
The unique product identifier allows for the sharing of essential information about the product, making it easier to track, service, and recycle devices. It also helps technicians find compatible spare parts, ensures the correct software updates are applied, and establishes a foundation for future digital product passports.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
The unique product identifier makes asset management and repairs easier. It also supports a more sustainable IT strategy, allowing products to have longer lifespans and be recycled safely.
Criteria promote the first steps toward a structured framework that expands the reach of take-back programs globally and ensures a more sustainable approach to reuse and recycling.
The issue we want to solve
E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, with over 60 million metric tons of electronics discarded yearly. Less than a quarter of it is properly collected and recycled. This is unsustainable and leads to a wide range of problems, such as toxic pollution, human health risks and the overuse of natural resources.
How the criterion works
IT brand owners must implement take-back and certified recycling systems, ensuring e-waste is responsibly collected, processed, and repurposed — not exported to vulnerable communities.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
This criterion supports your sustainable IT strategy by ensuring that waste is reduced and valuable resources are recovered.
Factories are categorized by risk level and high-risk factories are monitored more often. IT brands can select factories with a good rating, which is an incentive for factory owners to prioritize their work with sustainability.
The issue we want to solve
IT factories are often located in countries where labor laws are weak or not properly enforced. Many workers experience difficulties and injustices, such as forced labor, lack of freedom of association, health and safety risks, and the inability to earn a living wage without agreeing to excessive overtime. IT manufacturing is also linked to severe environmental issues, such as climate change, resource overuse, pollution and waste generation.
How the criterion works
Factories are regularly audited and categorized by risk on TCO Certified Accepted Factory List. Those that proactively engage in sustainability efforts and consistently meet TCO Certified criteria are placed in a low-risk category. In contrast, factories that have ongoing sustainability issues are assigned a higher risk category and are monitored more frequently. If significant problems are not resolved within a specified timeframe, the factory will be removed from TCO Certified Accepted Factory List and will no longer be allowed to manufacture certified products. The list is available to IT brands, allowing them to prioritize responsible suppliers. As a result, this system creates a strong incentive for factories to adopt sustainable practices.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Specifying TCO Certified in procurement helps you access IT products that are responsibly made. It means that your IT investments contribute to fairer, more responsible supply chains with less negative impact on people and the environment.
The manufacture of certified products must comply with local labor and health and safety laws, the ILO’s core conventions, and the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
The issue we want to solve
IT products often come at a human cost. Due to weak labor law enforcement, many workers in the supply chain face low wages, unsafe conditions, and excessive working hours.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified holds IT brands accountable for social responsibility in their supply chains. Suppliers must comply with local labor, health and safety laws, and ILO core conventions. Factories are audited regularly, and corrective action plans are set up for any identified violations. Unless issues are corrected on time, a factory can lose the right to manufacture certified products.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
Our social supply chain criteria help buyers identify IT products that are responsibly made, positively impacting the working conditions of thousands of individuals. By sourcing certified products, you help ensure IT brands are held accountable for continuously improving social conditions within their supply chains.
To improve worker safety and well-being, and promote raised wage levels, workweeks are limited to 60 hours.
The issue we want to solve
Excessive overtime is a persistent problem identified during factory audits, leading to worker fatigue, increased accident risks, and poor well-being. Many workers are forced to put in long hours to make a living due to low base wages. Without clear limits, excessive working hours remain a widespread problem in IT product supply chains, affecting both worker health and overall productivity.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified limits total working hours to 60 per week for all factory workers. Independent audits verify compliance, and corrective action is required if violations are found. This drives factory-wide improvements, ensuring workers earn enough to cover living costs while reducing health and safety risks from overwork. Higher wages and better conditions help factories retain a stable workforce.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers are helping to drive industry-wide improvements, reducing the risks of labor violations in supply chains. Limiting excessive overtime ensures a more stable, responsible workforce, leading to higher-quality production and reduced reputational risks.
Brand owners must have an anti-bribery management system (ISO 37001) to prevent all forms of bribery in their operations.
The issue we want to solve
Corruption is a widespread issue that undermines effective governance, distorts competition, and increases business costs. It erodes trust in institutions and diminishes the quality of products and services. Corruption within supply chains creates uncertainty, hinders development, and obstructs fair market operations, making anti-corruption measures essential.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified requires brand owners to implement an anti-bribery management system aligned with ISO 37001 to prevent corruption in their operations and supply chains. Independent reviewers assess compliance, ensuring that policies, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms align with this international best practice. This helps mitigate bribery risks and fosters responsible business conduct.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers ensure that IT suppliers are operating on a level playing field, by aligning with an internationally recognized anti-bribery management system. This standardized approach fosters fair competition, improves product quality, and strengthens institutional trust by promoting ethical business practices.
To improve transparency, major sub-suppliers must be declared. Brand owners must appoint a Senior Management Representative to monitor and ensure compliance with supply chain criteria.
The issue we want to solve
Lack of transparency in supply chains allows unethical practices, such as labor rights violations and environmental harm, to remain undetected. Without visibility beyond final assembly factories, IT brands struggle to ensure responsible sourcing.
How the criterion works
IT brands are required to identify and disclose information about their final assembly factories and important next-tier suppliers. They must implement a robust system to identify these suppliers and ensure they adhere to the code of conduct, including local labor laws, health and safety laws, and ILO core conventions.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
For buyers, this means credible, independent verification of factory conditions, reducing the risk of unethical labor practices in supply chains. Regular audits and corrective action requirements ensure steady progress in the implementation and maintenance of worker rights. By specifically asking for certified products, buyers support a structured, transparent approach to supply chain responsibility.
To ensure steady progress in supply chain responsibility, factories are audited regularly. High-risk factories are audited more often, and all issues must be corrected within a set timeframe.
The issue we want to solve
Regular, high-quality audits of factories are essential to ensure that labor rights violations, health and safety risks, and environmental issues are identified and addressed. However, many audits lack credibility due to weak standards or conflicts of interest. Inconsistent oversight allows unethical practices to continue.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified requires independent audits conducted under RBA-VAP or SA8000 by auditors listed with APSCA to ensure credibility and accountability. High-risk factories must be audited more frequently, and any identified issues must be corrected within a set timeframe. This systematic approach ensures consistent monitoring and continuous improvement in factory working conditions.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By requesting certified products, buyers promote greater accountability in the IT industry, ensuring that responsible practices extend beyond the final assembly stage. Sourcing products responsibly supports sustainable procurement goals and reduces reputational risks.
We are driving industry engagement to responsibly source 3TG and cobalt by creating a structured system that promotes the use of RMAP conformant mineral smelters and refiners.
The issue we want to solve
Mining of 3TG and cobalt is often linked to human rights violations, environmental destruction, and funding of armed conflicts. Many supply chains lack transparency, making it difficult to ensure responsible sourcing. Without a structured system, organizations risk contributing to unethical practices and failing to meet international due diligence expectations.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified requires IT brands to engage only with smelters and refiners that have been independently verified for their due diligence management systems. These systems must adhere to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, for instance by participating in the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP), which audits and certifies smelters and refiners according to responsible sourcing requirements.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers are supporting an industry-wide shift toward ethical mineral sourcing. This structured approach helps align procurement with human rights and the global due diligence standard, supporting continuous improvement in ethical mineral sourcing and risk mitigation.
Final assembly factories and display panel factories must systematically manage environmental responsibilities in line with ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 50001 (energy management).
The issue we want to solve
The manufacturing of IT products has a considerable impact on the environment, including high energy consumption, pollution, and waste production. Without structured management systems in place, factories may lack effective processes to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and minimize their environmental footprint, leading to long-term sustainability risks.
How the criterion works
TCO Certified requires final assembly and display panel factories to be certified to ISO14001 and ISO50001. These internationally recognized standards ensure that factories implement structured processes for reducing their environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, and complying with environmental regulations.
Benefits for IT buyers and users
By specifically asking for certified products, buyers support a systematic approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste, and ensuring adherence to environmental standards.
Complete criteria documents
General
Currently, imaging equipment, projectors, servers, network equipment and data storage products are approved for use with the General criteria document.