Focus area Climate
Smart choices reduce the climate impact of your IT use
Climate change is intensifying, leading to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, environmental degradation, and the loss of human lives. Our use of IT products contributes to the problem as greenhouse gases are emitted throughout their lifecycle.
Fortunately, effective and easy-to-implement methods for reducing the IT sector’s climate impact are available. Let’s take action and reduce emissions where we can.
For most IT products, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions occur in the manufacturing phase. The production process is energy-intensive, and most factories are powered by fossil fuels. Before a notebook computer reaches its first user, it has already generated approximately 250 kilograms of greenhouse gases. If it is discarded after only three years, these emissions will amount to over 90 percent of total lifetime emissions.
Climate change, circularity and e-waste are closely linked
Today, we often give IT products a short life. Once they are discarded, only a small percentage is recycled. Instead, virgin natural resources are used to produce new products, which leads to larger greenhouse gas emissions than if recycled materials were used. In our mostly linear economy, we are overusing finite natural resources, and in our pursuit of them, natural habitats with vegetation that can capture carbon are being destroyed. The short life we give IT products also creates huge amounts of toxic e-waste — more than 50 million metric tons, a figure that grows every year. In many ways, climate change, circularity and e-waste are closely linked. Addressing one of these areas will have a positive impact on the other two.
Using products longer reduces emissions
We can do a lot to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the IT sector, especially compared to other industries like steel and construction. By doubling a notebook computer’s use time from three years to six, the annual greenhouse gas footprint is almost halved. Even extending its life with one more year will make a big difference — keeping it for four years instead of three reduces its annual footprint by an impressive 23,5 percent. If you decide to double its use time, annualized emissions will drop by close to 50%. These figures vary depending on where in the world you are — here we have used an EU average.
Measuring emissions and reductions is valuable if we focus on the right metrics. The most common method used today is calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) by aggregating all greenhouse gas emissions into the first year of a product’s life. This method doesn’t consider the option of using products longer. By annualizing our calculations, and dividing total emissions by the number of years the product is intended to be used, it becomes clear how important it is to extend the product’s life when we want to reduce its climate impact.
The impact of IT procurement
Because most greenhouse gas emissions come from manufacturing, it’s crucial that we prevent excess manufacturing and perpetuate those emissions time and time again. An effective way to do this is to extend the lifespan of products. Implement a program for redeploying IT equipment within your organization. After its initial use, a product can often be repurposed for less data-intensive tasks, where it can continue to function effectively.
It’s important to adopt a workplace management perspective and make responsible decisions about the size of your IT infrastructure. Even if you purchase the most sustainable computer screens available, your negative impact will still be excessive if each employee is provided with three screens.
When procuring products, it’s important to include aspects that enable an extended product life. One effective strategy is to source refurbished and remanufactured items. Additionally, plan for longer procurement cycles; aim for a minimum of five years when purchasing a notebook computer. This is only possible if you select the right models. Ensure that the models you choose are durable, have sufficient capacity for use throughout that period, and can be easily upgraded and repaired if needed. Also, check that they come with an extended warranty and receive regular security and functionality updates to prevent software issues from occurring.
When IT products no longer serve your organization’s needs, they can be valuable elsewhere. Consider giving them a second life by selling or donating them, which can also generate additional income.
What scope 1, 2 and 3 mean for IT buyers and users
Scope 1: For the buyer and user of IT products, no emissions are scope 1.
Scope 2: Emissions from the energy required to charge and run the IT product.
Scope 3: Emissions from manufacturing, transportation and waste management.
Five actions to reduce climate impact
Five actions to reduce climate impact
Using TCO Certified helps you lower emissions
TCO Certified helps you address the climate issue in a scientific and comprehensive way, with strict criteria to improve both production and product design. We’re re-thinking climate strategy with a wide range of measures, including incentives for industry and users to extend product lifespans and a new focus on renewable energy in factories.
Using TCO Certified in procurement helps you reduce the climate footprint of your IT systems, both in scope 2 and scope 3. The products you source are energy efficient and designed for a long life. Verified sustainability data is included to support your reporting.
Climate criteria in TCO Certified
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.