Effects of TCO Certified in the IT product supply chain

Impacts and Insights 2019 measures sustainability progress among brand owners with IT products certified according to TCO Certified, 2015-2018.

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FULL REPORT
About the report

About the report

  • The new report Impacts and Insights 2019 from TCO Development measures the sustainability progress among brand owners with IT products certified according to TCO Certified.
  • The measured time period is 2015-2018 and findings are based on independent factory audits at 20 final assembly factories manufacturing certified products, independent verification reports and interviews with brand owner senior management representatives.
  • The report covers three main areas: social responsibility in final assembly factories, hazardous substances and conflict minerals.

Report summary

109 non-conformities were found in the initial factory audits. Within two years, 77% of these were eliminated.

Factory conditions have improved significantly, but excessive working hours and low wages are remaining challenges.

Factory management is working more actively to engage sub-suppliers in sustainability issues.

TCO Certified Accepted Substance List grew to include 15 flame retardants, assessed as safer alternatives.

The number of brand owners engaged in multi-stakeholder, in-region initiatives more than doubled.

The number of IT brands compliant with OECD conflict mineral due diligence guidelines grew from 43% to 61%.

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Learn about the keys to solving the most pressing sustainability challenges in the IT product supply chain.

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0
more sustainable IT products models were
certified according to TCO Certified
0
factories independently audited
0%
of factory non-conformities solved
0
factory workers were affected by improvements
0%
of brand owners had a public conflict minerals policy 2018
0%
of brand owners engaged in multi-stakeholder in-region initiatives
0%
of brands owners with due diligence programs in line with OECD guidelines
0
environmental and human health aspects considered in substance evaluations
0
flame retardants added to TCO Certified Accepted Substance List (2015-2018)

Keys to progress

Many sustainability issues in the IT industry are difficult to solve and may reoccur even after closure. Here are six keys to faster and more lasting change.

1. Engagement

Real change demands engagement and that the organization allocate enough resources

2. Follow up

A code of conduct and factory audits is not enough to solve sustainability issues — continual monitoring is needed

3. Consequences

A system of consequences is needed to make the IT industry prioritize corrections of sustainability issues

4. Cooperation

There is a growing interest for more sustainable IT products — shared criteria and coordination give better results

5. Transparency

Banning hazardous substances is not enough — we need to assess and identify safer substitutions

6. Long-sightedness

Conflict mineral due diligence is challenging but essential in order to improve lives in vulnerable mining communities

Why TCO Certified?

Why TCO Certified?

TCO Certified includes the keys to solving sustainability problems in IT product supply chains.

More than just an ecolabel
  • Global sustainability certification for IT products
  • Comprehensive, up to date criteria
  • Independent verification of compliance
  • Eight product categories

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