The main difference is that TCO Certified requires independent verification, while self-declared sustainability labels are based on claims made by the IT brand without external review.
In TCO Certified, all criteria are mandatory and compliance is independently verified by approved verification organizations, both before and after certification. This includes product testing, document review, and audits of manufacturing conditions.
Self-declared labels, on the other hand, typically rely on information provided by the brand owner. Without independent verification, it can be difficult to assess whether claims are accurate, comparable, or consistently applied.
TCO Certified is developed according to the principles of ISO 14024 Type 1 ecolabels, which require transparency, relevant criteria, and independent verification.