TCO Certified and its robust system of accountability helps purchasers directly influence the IT industry. The resources, industry connections and experience needed to verify and improve the IT supply chain is embedded in each certified product. Each year, approximately 20,000 hours are spent verifying claims specifically connected to the certified products that purchasers request.
So how does it all work? Before an IT product is certified, a global team of accredited experts verifies environmental and social aspects in factories and products, as well as the product’s performance. Verifiers are specialized in specific areas, such as toxicology, environmental assessments, supply chain social responsibility, visual ergonomics, and product safety.
No individual party should be able to claim that a product meets all requirements. Therefore, before issuing a certificate for any IT product, TCO Certified requires sign-off from two parties: an independent, accredited verification organization that signs a verification of compliance report (VOC), and the certification body (TCO Development).
32 factories
have been removed from TCO Certified Accepted Factory List and can no longer manufacture certified products.
When TCO Certified is specified in purchasing, the product certificate serves as proof of compliance with your specification. The certificate is a result of thousands of hours spent verifying that products and factories meet the comprehensive criteria in TCO Certified.
When you specify TCO Certified, a robust process of accountability is set in motion.
How verification is done
Product testing by independent verifier
The product is tested by an independent verifier to ensure that it meets all criteria in TCO Certified.
Independent factory audit
A corrective action plan for each non-compliance.
Brand owner assessment
A code of conduct that meets all criteria for socially responsible manufacturing must be implemented throughout the supply chain.
Compliance of environmental criteria
Independent verification for products and factories.
Social audits atleast every three years
Brand owners must provide proof that social audits are carried out at least once every three years at final assembly factories.
Signatures for certification
TCO Certified requires a signature from 2 parties to issue a certificate, an independent accredited conformity assessment body and the certification body.
