Answers to frequently asked questions

If you are interested in applying for certification of a product category that we do not currently cover, we may be able to add it without releasing a new criteria document. The criteria document for TCO Certified, general can potentially be used to cover new product categories. Please contact manufacturers@tcodevelopment.com with information about the product in question, and we will evaluate the possibilities.

The manufacturer can handle the application process but the brand owner must also be involved. For example, it is the brand owner’s responsibility to submit the necessary documentation related to socially responsible manufacturing criteria on an annual basis. Both the brand owner and the manufacturer need to sign an agreement with TCO Development.

A new generation of TCO Certified is released every three years. When a new generation is launched, products can no longer be certified to the previous generation. A certificate has a limited validity period: it is valid for two years from the date of issue, with the option to extend for one year at a time. You can find a complete listing of all products that are currently certified in our Product Finder.

Products may no longer be promoted as certified according to TCO Certified once the certificate expires or the generation of criteria is discontinued.

The current generation of TCO Certified
All product categories can be certified to TCO Certified, generation 10 from December 2024 to December 2027.

We encourage you to use the TCO Certified brand in your communications related to certified products. The demand for more sustainable IT products is growing, and offering certified products will help you compete in this market.

Our brand book includes guidance on how to speak and write about TCO Certified and how and when you can use the TCO Certified logo. You are always welcome to contact us for more details.

The brand owner must submit the following to an approved social verifier at one of the approved verification organizations:

• Public code of conduct
• Proof of supply chain communications about the code of conduct
• Factory identification template for each final assembly factory and each factory manufacturing display panels >10”
• An independent audit report for each final assembly factory and each factory manufacturing display panels >10” in accordance with their risk category auditing schedule.
• A corrective action plan for all non-conformities
• Supply chain identification template for risk assessment of next-tier major suppliers
• Responsible mineral sourcing template
• Process chemical template
• The annual review report, covering assessment of code of conduct and communication, minerals policies and due diligence process, anti-bribery management system and supplier engagement self-assessment questionnaire.

We’re driving change where it is needed the most by categorizing factories depending on risk and requiring audits more often in high-risk factories than in low-risk factories. Risk category 1 factories are audited every 12 months, while risk category 2 factories are audited every 24 months, and risk category 3 every 36 months. For details, please refer to the clarification section in chapter 2.1.2 in any of the criteria documents for TCO Certified, generation 10.

No. Audits must be independent, conducted by organizations accredited to ISO 17021 and carried out by SA8000 or RBA lead auditors who are APSCA certified. An independent party is considered to be a person or body that is recognized as being impartial of the parties involved, regarding the issue in question. After the audit, the audit report and the corrective action plan must be verified by independent and accredited verification organizations.

Compliance with criteria is always independently verified. Each year, accredited experts spend more than 20,000 hours on product testing and supply chain assessments. Verification includes product tests, factory audits, brand owner assessments, and follow-up. This solid process ensures fair competition and helps you communicate your sustainability progress credibly.

Learn more about independent verification in TCO Certified

For most product categories, a representative product sample must be sent to an approved verification organization for testing. The social and environmental documentation must also be reviewed by an approved verifier.

Independent verification organizations

A certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue, with the option to extend for one year at a time. Once the generation of TCO Certified that your product model is certified to is no longer valid, the certificate will expire automatically, if it’s not upgraded to the latest generation.

Generally, the certification process takes between three and five weeks, once the product sample and all the documents have been delivered to the independent verifier. However, if this is the first time you apply for certification, be aware that several processes need to be in place and that implementation will take time. If you are starting from scratch, implementation may take up to two years.

You should start by reviewing the criteria, then sign a contract with us and contact an approved verification organization. The verifier will then test the product and review the social and environmental documentation. When all the documents and the product sample have been delivered to the verification organization, the certification process generally takes three to five weeks.

Read our step-by-step guide

Getting your products certified according to TCO Certified is an effective way of meeting the growing demand for more sustainable products and taking greater social and environmental responsibility. Our system for verification and continuous improvement helps you structure your work with sustainability and communicate your progress credibly.

Learn more about the benefits