System and governance

TCO Certified is a global sustainability certification for IT products. Since 1992, TCO Certified has been used by IT purchasing organizations and the IT industry as a trusted, independent system of criteria and verification, specifically of sustainability in IT products. TCO Certified addresses environmental and social impacts of products and their supply chains. TCO Certified enables technology buyers to make more informed, sustainable product choices.

TCO Certified is a program of TCO Development (TCO Utveckling AB), a Swedish company wholly owned by TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees. TCO Development operates on a not-for-profit basis and is a separate legal entity from the companies and brand owners that apply for or hold TCO Certified certificates.

Organization registration information

In line with our commitment to accuracy and consistency, TCO Certified is governed in accordance with the principles of ISO 14024 for Type 1 Ecolabelling, and assessed by the Global Ecolabelling Network as part of the GENICES peer review process.

Information about TCO Certified, including complete criteria, detailed verification requirements, the certification process and listings of certified products, is publicly available on our website, tcocertified.com. Also available online and in our newsletters is information on the criteria development process and opportunities for stakeholder input.

A selection of online resources:

• Complete criteria documents, test and verification methods
• List of independent verifiers accredited to ISO 17025
• All documentation required for the certification process, including templates, fees and resources such as our listing of safer chemical substances accepted for use in certified products – TCO Certified Accepted Substance List
• Product Finder – a public listing of all certified products

Criteria in TCO Certified are divided into four focus areas: climate, substances, circularity and supply chain. All certified product models must meet all criteria for the product category, as specified in the TCO Certified criteria documents.

Complete criteria documents and certification guidance resources are available on our website. Information on legacy generations of TCO Certified is available on our website.

A new generation of TCO Certified is published every three years. Our public roadmap, available on our website, outlines medium to long-term sustainability goals and publication timelines for upcoming generations. Work plans and timelines are announced both on our website and in our newsletters.

Example: Development of TCO Certified, generation 11.
On-demand – upcoming roadmap and engagement opportunities.

The criteria development process offers multiple opportunities for stakeholder engagement and input. Drafts are announced publicly on our website and in newsletters, and all interested parties are invited to submit comments and ask questions. In each generation’s development, at least two draft rounds are offered before the final criteria are published. Each draft is open for public comment for a minimum of 30 days.

We actively involve a wide variety of stakeholders and NGOs in the development and review process, including purchasers, subject matter experts, academia and industry representatives.

Summary feedback on draft consultation processes is provided in our newsletters.

TCO Certified is developed through processes where no single interest group can dominate decision-making. Instead, decision-making is carried out by the certification body, TCO Development, which ensures a transparent, balanced approach by carefully considering feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including purchasers, experts, academia, industry representatives, NGOs, and others.

This inclusive and fair approach ensures that all perspectives are thoroughly evaluated and that the resulting criteria drive real sustainability impact. This includes environmental and social impact, balanced with the IT industry’s ability to meet the criteria. By preventing any single group from having undue influence, the criteria remain robust, credible, and achievable.

In summary, to apply for TCO Certified product certification, the IT product brand owner follows these steps:

• Criteria review
• Agreement with TCO Certified
• Product testing with an approved verifier
• Supply chain/factory assessments with an approved verifier
• Submission of relevant verification reports
• Apply for TCO Certified

A step-by-step guide to the certification process is available on our website.

A list of certification fees is available on our website.

TCO Certified is open on transparent, fair and non-discriminatory terms to applicants willing and able to meet the applicable published criteria and verification requirements. The application process, approved independent verifiers and certification fees are publicly available. Applicants enter into a TCO Certified license agreement before certification.

In support of TCO Development’s published vision of a sustainable life cycle for all IT products, an application may be rejected on objective grounds. These include a material previous breach of the TCO Certified license agreement, infringement of TCO Development’s intellectual property rights or serious, documented misconduct by the applicant or brand owner concerning environmental protection, labor rights, fraud or corruption that materially undermines the integrity of TCO Certified.

A certificate applies to the specified product, brand, registered model and sales names. The TCO Certified label and references to certification may be used for that product only while its certificate is valid. The certificate holder and, where applicable, the brand owner must maintain compliance throughout the certificate’s validity and take required corrective action. Our verification and non-compliance procedures explain ongoing checks and withdrawal.

Eligible product models must meet all criteria in TCO Certified through product testing and verification for compliance by independent, accredited verifiers. This applies to environmental criteria and socially responsible manufacturing. Full details on our website.

List of independent verifiers accredited to ISO 17025 available on our website

TCO Development coordinates the ongoing quality assurance program and makes decisions concerning certificates. Compliance is verified before certification and throughout the certificate’s validity by approved verification organizations that are independent of TCO Development, the applicant, the certificate holder and the brand owner. Their competence and independence are demonstrated through applicable accreditation and approval requirements, based on relevant international standards. Verification includes product testing, factory assessments and follow-up activities.

TCO Development assesses identified non-compliances and requires corrective action where appropriate. If a non-compliance is severe, remains uncorrected, or if requested action is not taken, the certificate for the affected product is withdrawn. TCO Development informs the certificate holder and, where applicable, the brand owner of the effective withdrawal date. From that date, they may no longer use the TCO Certified designation for that product or market or present it as TCO Certified. Certificates and associated rights for other products remain in effect unless separately withdrawn or terminated. Information about withdrawn certificates is published on our website.

Stakeholders and the public can submit a comment or complaint through our website. All complaints are discussed internally and responded to typically within one week.

In the case of a complaint or doubt about a certification or verification result, TCO Development will resolve the issue either through existing processes or by appointing an independent party accredited to assess test results and reports.

Complaints and comments can be submitted via email through our website.

TCO Development confirms that TCO Certified meets the certification scheme requirements for sustainability labels in Directive (EU) 2024/825. The supporting information is set out above: TCO Development’s operation of the scheme (§2); published criteria and fair, open certification terms (§§2 and 4); consultation with experts and stakeholders (§3); procedures for non-compliance and withdrawal of label-use rights (§5); and monitoring by independent verification organizations before and after certification (§5).