TCO Certified, generation 11

– Launching in December 2027

Development of the next generation of TCO Certified is underway — and your expertise can help shape what comes next.

Get involved in the development process

TCO Certified is updated every three years to address the most pressing sustainability challenges connected to IT products. As we develop generation 11, we invite you to review the proposed criteria and verification methods, and share your feedback with us.

On this page, you’ll find everything you need to explore the draft and contribute your insights. Your input is important, and we look forward to hearing from you.

How to submit your comments

Step 1: Get to know the draft

Read the criteria documents and watch the video presentations.

Download criteria documents
Watch video presentations of criteria
Watch the recorded Q&A sessions

Step 2: Send us your feedback

Download the Excel feedback form, add your comments and email it to us.

Download the Excel feedback form

Step 3: Book a meeting with us

We’re available for meetings in September, to discuss your comments.

Schedule a meeting by emailing martin.soderberg@tcodevelopment.com.

Watch the video presentations

Our criteria developers walk you through the proposed changes in Draft 2, chapter by chapter. Watch the videos to get familiar with the updates.

Watch the recorded Q&A sessions

If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the discussions, you can watch the recordings here. In the sessions, our criteria developers answer questions about the proposed updates and explain key changes in the second draft.

Session 1

Session 2

New and updated criteria

Here’s an overview of the new and updated criteria in the draft of TCO Certified, generation 11. Compared with the previous generation, the criteria document has been restructured to align with our Roadmap for Sustainable IT, following its four key areas: climate, substances, circularity, and supply chain.

REMEMBER: THIS IS A DRAFT AND CRITERIA ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Climate

Reducing emissions from production

Scope 3 emission reductions beyond industry standards
IT brands must lower the annualized product carbon footprint for notebooks and displays. For noteboks, annual emissions must be 45 kg CO₂e/year or less, and for displays, it must be 72 kg CO₂e/year or less. These levels represent a reduction of around 30 percent compared with the market average for each product category. UPDATED!

Compensating for remaining emissions through carbon offsets
IT brands must compensate for at least 10% of the product’s scope 3 emissions through carbon credits. UPDATED!

Increasing the demand for renewable energy
To increase renewable energy production, IT brands must purchase renewable electricity equivalent to 30% of their consumption in final assembly and display panel factories. Purchases must be verified through accepted renewable electricity certificate systems. UPDATED!

Reducing energy use further into the supply chain
We go beyond final assembly and require that PCB mainboard factories implement an energy management system certified to ISO 50001. UPDATED!

Preparing to address energy-consumption hotspots
Final assembly factories, display panel factories and PCB mainboard factories must identify and report data for the three Significant Energy Uses (SEUs) with the highest estimated annual energy consumption. UPDATED!

Reducing emissions from use

6+ years of supported product lifetime
The IT brand must support products for at least six years (five years for peripherals) by providing free security and functionality updates, and ensuring that replacement batteries, critical spare parts and repair manuals are available. UPDATED!

Energy efficiency of products
Products must meet the latest energy efficiency standards of the EU Ecodesign Directive.

Improving the energy efficiency of power supplies
All power supplies offered with the product model and rated above 240 W must be at least 90% efficient at half load. UPDATED!

Substances

Improving safety in production

Only safer adhesives can be used
Adhesives is a new category on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List. Before adhesives for temporary bonding of parts can be used in final assembly factories, they must be tested and approved as safer by an independent toxicologist. UPDATED!

Safer cleaners in mainboard factories
Our criterion for safer cleaners used on production lines is expanded to include PCB mainboard factories. UPDATED!

Improving safety in products

Safer, PVC-free external cables
External cables supplied with the certified product must be free from all types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). UPDATED!

Circularity

Ensuring that products are made for a long life

6+ years of supported product lifetime
The IT brand must support products for at least six years (five years for peripherals) by providing free security and functionality updates, and ensuring that replacement batteries, critical spare parts and repair manuals are available. UPDATED!

At least one year of warranty
A minimum one-year warranty must be included free of charge, with the option to extend coverage to at least five years (three years for peripherals). The cost of the extended warranty must not exceed 10% of the product price (MSRP) per year. For notebooks, one battery replacement must be included during the warranty period if the battery degrades to 60% State of Health or less. UPDATED!

Replacing critical components is made easier
Critical components must be replaceable by users. The IT brand must provide instructions on how to access and replace these parts.

Repairability index for mobile devices
A minimum repairability index (class D) indicates how easy it is to maintain and repair mobile devices, covering disassembly, spare parts, repair instructions and software updates. UPDATED!

The next step for standardized connectors
USB-C is established as the universal connector. Minimum performance levels are raised and applied to more product categories, reducing the number of cables needed and enabling broader charger reuse.

Promoting battery longevity
Mobile products must have battery information and protection software installed.

Creating circular flows of products and materials

Products must have digital product passports
The digital product passport must give users access to information that helps extend product life, such as warranty details, repair instructions, access to spare parts, and the product’s certification status directly retrieved from TCO Development. UPDATED!

The next step for recycled packaging
The amount of virgin plastics allowed in product packaging is reduced.

More recycled materials in products
Products must contain at least 5% post-consumer recycled materials. UPDATED!

Responsible e-waste management
All sold products must be covered by product take-back systems. The criterion also ensures a more sustainable approach to reuse and recycling. UPDATED!

Supply chain

Reduce environmental risks

Environmental management system
An environmental management system certified to ISO 14001 is required also for PCB mainboard factories. UPDATED!

Energy management system
An energy management system certified to ISO 50001 is required also for PCB mainboard factories. UPDATED!

Ensuring more responsible water use
IT brands must publish a supply chain policy for responsible water management and ensure it is shared with suppliers.

Identifying risks in water management
IT brands must have a due diligence process for water management that identifies risks and includes improvement measures across the supply chain.

Improve working conditions

Extending proactive work to PCB mainboard factories
The comprehensive system for active monitoring and follow-up of working conditions is extended to include PCB mainboard factories. UPDATED!

Health and safety management system
A health and safety management system certified to ISO 45001 is required also for PCB mainboard factories. UPDATED!

Responsibly sourced minerals
We are driving industry engagement to responsibly source 3TG and cobalt. At least 80% of smelters and refiners must be conformant with an accepted third-party due diligence program (e.g. RMAP).

Improving transparency in mineral sourcing
All smelters and refiners for 3TG and cobalt must be identified. The names and addresses of final assembly factories, and the names and locations of smelters and refiners must be made public. UPDATED!

Download documents

Below you’ll find the criteria documents for the first draft of TCO Certified, generation 11. Additional supporting documents are available here.

Displays

Draft 2

Notebooks

Draft 2

Tablets

Draft 2

Smartphones

Draft 2

Desktops

Draft 2

All-in-one PCs

Draft 2

Headsets

Draft 2

General

Draft 2

Supporting documents

High level summary of changes between draft 1 and draft 2
Public statement template: TCO Certified, generation 11
Scope 3 reductions v1.3

Share your views

We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the proposed criteria and verification methods. Download the document, add your comments, and email it to Martin Söderberg. You can also contact Martin to book a meeting with our developers in September 2026, to discuss topics that are especially relevant to you.

Timeline

  • Draft 1: 5 December 2025 – 16 January 2026

    The first draft is now available and open for comments until 16 January 2026.
    We’ll host webinars to answer your questions, and you’re welcome to contact us if you’d like to discuss the criteria individually.
  • Draft 2: 10 June-31 August 2026

    After reviewing all feedback, the second draft is released. It is open for comments between 10 June and 31 August. The latest changes will be discussed in our live Q&A sessions.
  • Draft 2 industry meetings September 2026

    IT brands can book meetings with our criteria developers to discuss TCO Certified, generation 11. Contact Martin Söderberg to schedule a meeting.
  • Publication of final criteria documents: End of 2026

    The final criteria documents will be published in December 2026. We encourage IT brands to engage with us early to prepare for the application process.

  • Application period starts: Autumn of 2027

    IT brands can begin applying for certification of their product models. Certificates will be issued in time for the official launch in December 2027.

  • Launch: End of 2027

    TCO Certified, generation 11 and the first certified product models will be presented at a launch event.

I’m here to help. Let’s talk!

Contact Martin Söderberg, Industry Relations Manager, with any questions.

Answers to your questions

These are answers to your questions regarding the second draft of TCO Certified, generation 11.

Product and sustainability information
We define “Intended operational configuration“ as “The state that the product is designed to be used in, for example, a display is intended to be mounted on a stand before being used.“

During normal use of a display, the user will not detach the display from the stand, but during the use of true wireless earbuds, the user is expected to open and close the lid to the charging case; therefore, it’s acceptable to place the data carrier on the inside of the charging case.

Yes, it is acceptable to use links to the full “public statement texts“ although the general TCO Certified information page “Certified Product Commitment Page“ must have descriptions of all public statements that are included for certified products.
This is still up for discussion, but it could, for example, be brand-specific SKUs. Although the GTIN codes will be the primary identifiers of certified product so this would be an additional identifier as a complement to the GTINs.
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a way for one IT system to securely request and receive data from another IT system. In this case, the API would be the connection used to retrieve the certification status from the TCO Certification database so it can be displayed in the PIP. We have already developed this API, but the specific details are up for discussion.

Our current plan is to deliver the certification information in a JSON-LD file, to harmonize with the data formats specified in the newly released standard EN18216:2026 Digital Product Passport – Data Exchange Protocols.

Yes, the data carrier required in the TCO Certified criterion is intended to be the same data carrier used to comply with the upcoming EU regulations regarding Digital Product Passports.
For EU regulations such as the ESPR, the European Commission commonly refers to delegated acts to fill in the details after a new law has been passed. The ESPR Digital Product Passports, Delegated Acts, will specify what data is required for different product categories. There is a list of potential data points that may be required, and among them is certification information. It will be up to the economic actors to make sure that they can provide the required data in their DPPs. The rationale behind requiring to show information about TCO Certified is primarily to provide a better experience for the users, but it is also intended to help brands comply with the potential requirement to display certification information in the Digital Product Passport.
Climate
The Scope 2 and 3 averages are used only as a common reference compiled from many brand PCF reports; they’re less central to this criterion. The goal is not to rank exact product footprints but to reward verifiable climate best practices that are comparable: supported product life and implementation of verified Scope‑3 reduction activities (from a maintained reductions list). Products are therefore mainly differentiated by length of supported use and which verified improvement activities are applied. Brands may submit credible, measurable, verifiable activities for inclusion. PCFs vary widely by methodology, data and verification, and can mislead-e.g., a short‑lived product using offsets may show a better PCF than a long‑lived product with verified partial renewable production, even though the latter is better for the climate.
We understand that Taiwan may remain a challenging market for renewable electricity in the short term. Our approach to address this in draft 2 is the high REC market price exception.

If the REC market price threshold is exceeded, part of the renewable electricity may be covered by RECs from neighbouring markets. For Taiwan, the draft currently allows RECs to be sourced from China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea or Vietnam under this exception.

If you do not think the high market price exception is fair or practical enough, we are very open to discussing how this can be addressed. However, all certified products within the same product category need to meet the same mandate levels in a sustainability certification.

In draft 2, supported product life is based on the shortest verified support period among the required support elements, including software updates, critical spare parts, repair manuals and spare batteries where applicable.

If a brand owner only guarantees spare parts and software support for 3 years, the supported product life would be 3 years. For notebooks and desktops, that would not be enough to meet the Annualized PCF threshold, even with the currently listed Scope 3 reductions. If would also fail the underlying circularity criteria.

Firstly, carbon offsets are a separate criterion, and you are not allowed to include climate offsets in the annualized PCF. Our goal is to incentivize and score climate-impact actions being undertaken in the industry.

The way PCFs are done today they do not necessarily incentivize investments in climate improvements in the industry. PCFs can also vary widely depending on methodology, data sources, assumptions and verification level. In many cases, the underlying input data is difficult to verify consistently. PCFs also do not always show the climate benefit of keeping products in use for longer.

Our approach is to add all reduction activities for which we have sufficient evidence to set a credible reduction value and a clear verification method. If a brand believes that renewable raw materials, including those with an attributed share through mass balance, can reduce the product’s Scope 3 impact in a credible and verifiable way, we encourage them to submit the methodology and supporting data so they can gain recognition and legitimacy for their work.
We understand the concern and agree fully, and this is why we keep carbon offsets separate from product climate reductions.

Offsets do not reduce the Annualized PCF and cannot be used to replace longer supported product life or verified Scope 3 reductions. The Annualized PCF criterion is the mechanism intended to drive improvements in the product value chain.

The offset requirement is intended to take responsibility for part of the remaining Scope 3 impact, after reduction efforts. It is not intended to show that the product has a lower PCF, and the public claim must not imply that offsets reduce the manufacturing emissions of the certified product.

If a brand invests in low PCF materials, better product design, or other production improvements, we are open to reviewing the methodology. If the activity is credible, measurable and possible to verify, it can be considered for the Scope 3 reductions list.

SPL is verified through the underlying criteria. The brand owner needs to show that the required support is available for 7 years after the end of placement on the market, including software updates, critical spare parts, repair manuals, and spare batteries where applicable.
In draft 2, the Scope 2 and Scope 3 terms are used from a purchaser/product-use perspective.

For example, electricity used when the notebook is used by the purchaser is treated as the product’s annual Scope 2 use impact in our model. From the brand owner’s corporate reporting perspective, the same electricity use would normally be reported as Scope 3 Category 11, use of sold products.

Similarly, manufacturing emissions in the supply chain are treated as Scope 3 in our model. For an individual supplier, some of those emissions may instead be their own Scope 1 or Scope 2 emissions.

We can clarify this before publication so it is not confused with brand-owner GHG Protocol reporting.

Yes. In draft 2, the carbon offset requirement applies to each certified notebook manufactured during the reporting year. It also applies to Desktops, Displays, Tablets and All-in-ones.
The offset amount is set at 10% of the product category average Scope 3 value. For notebooks, this means 24 kg CO₂e per certified notebook manufactured during the reporting year. The total annual offset amount depends on how many certified notebooks were manufactured during that year.
Proof of compliance must show the number of certified products manufactured, the required offset amount, and that enough accepted carbon credits have been retired in a public registry for TCO Certified products manufactured during the reporting year. It is a similar reporting method to the Renewable Electricity criterion.
In draft 2, approved Scope 3 reductions are used in the Annualized PCF calculation, but they do not reduce the separate 10% carbon offset requirement.

However, we understand the logic of allowing verified reductions beyond the Annualized PCF mandate level to count toward the carbon offset requirement. This is something we should review before publication, since it could better reward direct value-chain reductions while keeping the offset mechanism for remaining impact.

Green-e is not listed separately because it is mainly a certification and verification program for renewable electricity products, not the registry system used to issue, track and cancel RECs. M-RETS, NAR, ERCOT and WECC/WREGIS are REC tracking systems or registries. That is why they are listed as accepted systems.

Green-e certified RECs may still be used if the underlying REC is issued, tracked and canceled in an accepted registry, and the cancellation statement meets the TCO Certified requirements.

One reason for the proposed 18-month period is mainly to align with the extended time plan used for factory audit requirements. If a factory may be removed after 18 months under the factory audit process, it would be odd to allow an additional 6 months for ISO 50001. Our intention is that the timelines should be aligned so that the factory status and climate requirements work together. The second reason is that we have seen that many manufacturers have managed to implement ISO 50001 in a much shorter time period, so we think that 24 months is unnecessarily long.
Firstly, carbon offsets are a separate criterion, and you are not allowed to include climate offsets in the annualized PCF. Our goal is to incentivize and score climate-impact actions being undertaken in the industry.

The way PCFs are done today, they do not necessarily incentivize investments in climate improvements in the industry. PCFs can also vary widely depending on methodology, data sources, assumptions and verification level. In many cases, the underlying input data is difficult to verify consistently. PCFs also do not always show the climate benefit of keeping products in use for longer.

The Annualized PCF calculation uses product category average values, not product-specific specifications such as size, configuration or performance.
The Annualized PCF threshold is set separately for each product category.Each category has different average Scope 2 and Scope 3 values, so the same supported product life and the same Scope 3 reduction percentage will not give the same result.

For both notebooks and displays, the threshold is set so that 7 years supported product life can pass without Scope 3 reductions, while 6 years supported product life needs a small verified Scope 3 reduction. The exact reduction needed is different because the product category average values and mandate levels are different.

  • The proof should normally be a test report from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.
  • An 80 PLUS test report may also be accepted, but only if the testing facility is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for the relevant test method.
  • A supplier declaration alone is not sufficient. The proof must show that all power supplies covered by the 90% efficiency requirement meet at least 90% efficiency at 50% load.
  • For renewable electricity, the boundary is factory-based.
  • It must be proven with electricity consumption data and REC cancellation statements.
  • It is therefore not accepted to calculate electricity use from TCO’s average per-product value multiplied by shipment volume.
Substances
Hopefully, you will find the first adhesives on the list before the end of 2026. We have been gathering data on adhesives used in the production of certified products during the past three years. We will pay for the Green Screen assessment to get the first adhesives on the list and expect to have the results available in 2026.
We are aware of this problem for certain countries like India and South Korea, for instance. It is possible to apply for an exemption. The process is described in the Clarifications section in the Restricted product substances criterion.
Circularity

We need to be able to link the PCR material to the part used in the products. If you use the template we have, make sure to get the PCR material identifier from the Raw material PCR certificate and write the number in the PCR material for the part used in the product.

A poorly functioning battery is often the reason a notebook computer is replaced, typically after 3 to 5 years. If buying a spare battery is expensive or impossible, or if the replacement process is too complicated, the product is more likely to be discarded. This has a major sustainability impact, particularly on the climate. However, if the battery can be easily replaced, the computer can be used by a second- or third-hand user for another 5 years. For peripherals, this lifespan could be shorter, as the environmental footprint is normally lower for this product category.
  • We agree that inflation and future service costs are relevant factors.
  • At the same time, warranty revenue is typically received upfront, while service costs occur later. This timing has financial value and should also be considered.
  • Based on our research, we have seen extended warranty offerings of around 10% of MSRP across several product categories from both brands and resellers. We therefore believe this is a reasonable and achievable market level.
We have decided to exclude OBP from generation 11 because there is insufficient evidence to prove it is on par with PCR. However, if a material carries both OBP and PCR certifications, we might be able to accept it. To do so, we must be able to clearly identify the exact percentages of PCR versus OBP, as we will only approve the PCR percentage.

This means that Notebooks, Desktops, AIOs must be equipped with at least one USB Type-C receptacle compatible with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 or later, and that remains accessible and operational at all times.

It means that the product should have a permanent port and not be shipped with a dongle to fulfill the criterion.

TCO Certified, generation 11 does not approve or require any specific private charging protocol. The requirement is that the product has a USB Type-C receptacle that supports USB Power Delivery according to EN/IEC 63002:2021 or newer. Additional or private charging modes, such as PD105W 20V/5.25A or PD140W 20V/7A, may be implemented as extra functionality, provided that they do not replace or limit the required standardized USB Type-C Power Delivery interoperability.
There are no separate TCO Certified requirements for a PD private protocol. For certification, the product must show compliance with the standardized charging requirement: The product must have a USB Type-C receptacle for USB Power Delivery according to EN/IEC 63002:2021 or newer. Documentation must be submitted to the approved verifier, showing how the requirement is fulfilled.

Any private protocol should only be treated as additional functionality. In practice, make sure the notebook can charge using standardized USB-C Power Delivery according to EN/IEC 63002:2021 or later. The private 105W/140W modes can be present, but they are not what TCO Certified uses to determine compliance.

All materials that can be identified and verified as Post Consumer Recycled materials can be used, not limited to plastics or metals. Rare earth minerals can be used as well.
Yes, for the first year and if the user has paid for an extended warranty, the shipment of the product to the repair center and back must be free regardless of the country. It includes peripherals.
We understand that this is challenging for peripherals. However, TCO Certified generation 11 will come into effect in December 2027, and we want TCO Certified to gradually drive sustainability in the market. Therefore, we want to try to increase the warranty for peripherals to 3 years, as we believe it is possible. We are open to discussing this, and we are particularly interested in understanding if there are particular challenges in some countries.
We might be able to make an exception for products sold without an operating system. The intention of the mandate now is that the brand owner must ensure the product is not limited to one OS by ensuring an alternative can be installed.
The replacement threshold was originally at 80% SoH, which is a well-documented limit where the batteries reach a tipping point and start to degrade rapidly. After comments from several brand owners, we reduced the limit to 60% SoH. We understand there will be an added cost to replace the battery, especially if it is difficult to replace and of poor quality, as many batteries may need to be replaced. The intention of the criterion is to ensure that users who purchased a 5-year warranty should be able to keep the products for many more years, as batteries are often the bottleneck after 5 years.
Through market surveillance, we have seen that many brands and resellers offer an extended warranty for 10% of MSRP, so we believe that this is a reasonable limit to reach. It may be possible to push this to TCO Certified generation 12.

We have discussed this level with several industry stakeholders. Originally (in draft 1), we set it to 10%, but in the second draft, we chose to lower it to 5% based on the comments we received. If you think that 5% PCR content is not reasonable to require, please explain your reasoning in the Comments Excel sheet used to submit comments.

Supply chain
Many industry stakeholders voiced their concerns related to the cost for ISO 37001 certification during the first draft period, and we have listened to these comments. We have taken a step back in the second draft to continue to accept the same verification method as in generation 10. This means that the anti-bribery management work can still be verified through the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and annual interview. However, the questions in the SAQ might be updated.
As we develop our program with the Accepted Factory List, we’ve been building a stable base with the final assembly manufacturers, and they have also started to put pressure on suppliers in the supply chain. So the pressure is coming not only from brand owners. We have also gathered data during three years through the Supply Chain Identification Template, and the data shows that PCB manufacturers have a high level of implementation when it comes to various ISO standards and social audits.