– Frequently asked questions for industry
Answers to frequently asked questions
Find answers to questions about TCO Certified, criteria, application process and verification methods. If something isn’t covered, please contact us and we’ll gladly help you. Another way to stay up-to-date is to subscribe to our Technical Update newsletter.
Verification of compliance
Without independent verification of compliance, you can never know if the criteria are met. To test and audit products and their manufacturing facilities, extensive resources and technical expertise are needed. For credible results, it is also important that the verifiers have no affiliation with industry, purchasers or any other interest group that could influence the test results. This is why compliance with all criteria in TCO Certified is verified by independent and accredited verification organizations, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.
However, finding sustainability issues is only the first step on the way to more sustainable practices. We ensure progress by holding the industry accountable for also solving the issues. TCO Certified includes a structured system for continuous improvements and guides the industry to more sustainable ways of working. Corrective action plans must be developed and implemented within a set timeframe. Non-compliance is met with real consequences — certificates can be removed and factories may lose the right to manufacture certified products.