30 years of driving sustainable development in IT products

The organization behind the sustainability certification TCO Certified is TCO Development. We work globally toward a future where all IT products have a sustainable life cycle. Our international team is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with team members working remotely on several continents around the world.

We understand that sustainability issues are complex, so we ensure multiple perspectives are considered simultaneously. Our well-developed system drives steady and continuous environmental and social improvement. The certification includes business incentives for sustainability and sharing of best practices to speed up the pace of change. Our criteria development is continuous and supported by leading experts within our field.

Our story began more than 30 years ago when we introduced the world’s first global certification for IT products. The certification focused on energy consumption and included an energy-saving sleep mode for computer displays. Since then, TCO Certified has evolved and is now the world’s only global sustainability certification for IT products. It includes a broad set of criteria that addresses sustainability issues connected to IT products and their supply chains.

A global system for IT sustainability with a proven track record of success

More than 30 years of consistent effort and support from key stakeholders have resulted in a strong track record of success. We have reduced the climate impact by extending product lifespans and improving energy efficiency. The systematic work has resulted in more responsible factories and lasting environmental and social improvements. We’ve also managed to control the almost uncontrollable chemicals industry to reduce risks in products and manufacturing.

Going forward, our goals are ambitious, and we have a long-term roadmap that provides structure and transparency for implementing sustainable IT. It allows IT brands, purchaser organizations and stakeholders worldwide to align and collaborate. The roadmap addresses core sustainability challenges in four key areas: climate, substances, circularity and supply chain. A new generation of TCO Certified is developed every three years, in line with our detailed and ambitious Roadmap for Sustainable IT.

Around 100 million certified products are placed on the market each year, thanks to the thousands of purchasing organizations worldwide using TCO Certified in procurement. Only when we stand behind the same system is the IT industry willing to change. Together, we can push sustainability where it matters most.

We are supporting the following initiatives

CEPN

Green America Center for Sustainability Solutions (CEPN) brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to solve complex sustainability problems.

CEI

Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI) encourages organizations and consumers to take a more responsible approach to the electronic goods they use (founding member and project lead).

CFIT

The Circular & Fair ICT Pact (CFIT) is an international procurement-led partnership to accelerate circularity, fairness and sustainability in the ICT sector.

ECESP

European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) is a joint initiative by European Commission and European Economic and Social Committee. Its Leadership Group Circular Procurement focuses on mandatory requirements as a driver of the Circular Economy Action Plan (partner).

GEN

Global Ecolabbeling Network (GEN) is an NGO that aims to protect the environment through the eco-labeling of sustainable products and services. (It is a Full GENICES assessed member.)

ICLEI

ICLEI (local governments for sustainability) is the global network of governments committed to sustainable development (member).

IGPN

International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN) is an organization for green purchasing sustainable consumption and production.

KEEP

KEEP is a knowledge-sharing project with 14 partners that aims to create a traceability solution to streamline sustainable production, reuse and material recycling (expert).

ModUpp

#ModUpp2030, a Swedish collaboration between the organizations behind seven sustainability certifications aiming to encourage public decision makers to modern sustainable procurement with independent third-party certifications (founding member).

PREVENT Waste Alliance

PREVENT Waste Alliance is a network for minimizing waste, eliminating pollutants and maximizing resource reuse in the economy worldwide.

SDIA

Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance (SDIA) is an independent alliance of stakeholders committed to executing a Roadmap to Sustainable Digital Infrastructure by 2030.

SPLC

Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) is an organization focused on leveraging the role of procurement in creating a more sustainable future (member and member of the board).

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its One Planet network is a global community of practitioners, policymakers and experts, including governments, businesses, civil society, academia and international organizations.

One Planet SPP

One Planet Network Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) programme is a voluntary global multi-stakeholder partnership programme that promotes the implementation of sustainable public procurement globally to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

One Planet CI-SCP

One Planet Network Consumer Information Programme (CI-SCP) implements and supports projects, undertakes research, identifies and encourages policies, and provides collaboration opportunities for anyone looking to engage and assist consumers in sustainable consumption.

TCO Development is owned by TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, a non-profit and politically independent organization. TCO works internationally with economic issues, employment, working conditions, and trade union and human rights.