TCO CERTIFIED, GENERATION 10
Get to the next level of sustainable IT
The final version of TCO Certified, generation 10 has been published. It includes updated criteria aiming to reduce the climate impact of IT products, improve working conditions for over 100,000 people and replace thousands of harmful substances with safer alternatives.
Climate
Driving improvements in production and product design to reduce the climate impact of IT products
To reduce scope 2 and 3 emissions, we promote the use of renewable energy, ensure that factories and products use less energy and that devices are made for a long life.
Circularity
Setting a new standard for product longevity with a minimum of five years use time
Extensive circular requirements on hardware, software and information availability help extend product life, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease e-waste levels.
Substances
Improving chemical safety, focusing on stabilizers, external cables and next-tier suppliers
By expanding our criteria to cover new chemical types, product parts and the next level in the supply chain, we ensure that thousands of harmful substances are replaced with safer alternatives.
Supply chain
Moving further up the supply chain to give 100,000+ more people a safer working environment
Criteria are made stricter and our proven and effective way of driving environmental and social sustainability is extended further into the supply chain.
What happens next?
Here’s what you need to know to get your products certified to TCO Certified, generation 10 in time for the launch in December.
Publication
on 11 June
Finalized criteria are published. You can start preparing your applications by contacting one of our approved verifiers.
Application opens
on 19 August
You can now apply for product certification. Certificates will be released on the official launch day.
Priority deadline:
1 October
Submit your application by this date to ensure your products can get certified before the launch. Applications that arrive later will be processed as quickly as possible but may not be ready in time.
Launch on
4 December
TCO Certified, generation 10 is launched! Products certified to the new generation will be introduced to IT procurement decision-makers at an event.
TCO Certified, generation 9 will be phased out
The final day to apply for TCO Certified, generation 9 is 3 December. Find more information about applications and upgrades in this article.
New and updated criteria in four key areas
Climate
Final assembly factories must use renewable electricity
At least 15% of the electricity used in the final assembly of certified products must be procured or generated from renewable sources.
Complete details in: chapter 3
Focus on energy efficiency in display panel factories
All display panel factories must implement an energy management system and be certified to ISO 50001. This is already a requirement for final assembly factories.
Complete details in: chapter 3
Incentives for reducing the product carbon footprint
A dynamic list of best practices on how to reduce scope 3 emissions will help factory owners take steps in the right direction.
Complete details in: chapter 3
Energy efficient products
IT products must be energy efficient and meet the latest requirements of Energy Star.
Complete details in: chapter 5
Product must be made for a long life
Criteria for circularity and product longevity enable at least five years of supported product lifetime.
Complete details in: chapter 6
Substances
New focus on stabilizers
We expand TCO Certified Accepted Substance List with a new category: stabilizers. Unless a stabilizer chemical is independently assessed as safer and listed on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List, it cannot be used in certified products.
Complete details in: chapter 7
Safer external cables
External cables supplied with the product will be safer as they may only contain flame retardants, plasticizers and stabilizers that are independently assessed as safer and listed on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.
Complete details in: chapter 7
Safer process chemicals
Display panel factories must only use cleaning solvents listed on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List and submit chemical inventory data covering type, application and handling of adhesives and lubricants at final assembly and display panel factories.
Complete details in: chapter 2
Preparing for the next step
We’re preparing for the next step in chemical safety by collecting data about adhesives and lubricants.
Complete details in: chapter 2
Circularity
5+ years of supported product lifetime
Brand owners must offer a product warranty for five years of which at least one year is free of charge. Free security and functionality software updates for the operating system must be available throughout the validity period of the TCO Certified certificate and at least five years after the product is no longer placed on the market.
Complete details in: chapter 6
Products must be marked with a unique identifier
Certified products must be marked with a two-dimensional barcode containing the unique product identity and providing direct access to product information at the item level.
Complete details in: chapter 1
Easy battery replacement
A new battery must be available for anyone to purchase. It must be replaceable using commercially available tools, or tools provided free of charge with the product and instructions must be available, free of charge.
Complete details in: chapter 6
Repairability index for mobile devices
A repairability index covering disassembly, spare parts, repair instructions and software updates indicates how easy mobile devices are to maintain and repair.
Complete details in: chapter 6
Responsible e-waste management
Brand owners must ensure that at least 80% of all certified products sold are covered by product take-back systems and that at least 40% of all first-tier reuse and recycling facilities used by non-EPR take-back systems are certified according to R2, e-Stewards, WEEELABEX, EN50625, or equivalent.
Complete details in: chapter 8
Recycled packaging materials
If the product packaging consists of more than 20% plastic materials (by weight), then at least 50% of the plastics (by weight) must be made of post-consumer recycled plastics.
Complete details in: chapter 8
Supply chain
Proactive work in display panel factories
We go further up the supply chain and require that display panel factories comply with criterion 2.1, supply chain responsibility, obtain ISO standards 50001, 14001 and 45001, and only use cleaners and degreasers that appear on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.
Complete details in: chapter 2 & 3
Stricter requirements on anti-bribery
Brand owners must work systematically to prevent all forms of bribery in their business operations by having a management system that is independently assessed and considered fully aligned with ISO 37001.
Complete details in: chapter 2
The next step in responsible mineral sourcing
The number of mineral smelters and refiners with a certified due diligence process is increased so that at least 70% of SoRs of 3TG and cobalt in the supply chain must be compliant.
Complete details in: chapter 2
Get to know TCO Certified, generation 10
In these video clips, we explain all significant changes in all criteria areas. Presentations are intended for IT product brand owners and OEM/ODM manufacturers.
General
The general criteria document currently covers projectors, imaging equipment, servers, networking equipment and data storage.
For other product categories, please contact us.
Templates
Unique product identifier (UPI) template
Notebooks repairability index calculator
Tablet and smartphone reparability index calculator
Supply chain identification template V2.0
Responsible mineral sourcing template V2.0
Process chemical template V2.0
Post-consumer recycled content and packaging template v1.0
Factory identification template V2.0
E-waste management template
Restricted substance template
Battery estimation template V2.0
Public policy for warranty and software updates template
NEW!
Now covering all IT product categories
In addition to updated product-specific criteria documents, we now publish a criteria document aimed at a wider range of products: TCO Certified, generation 10, general. It can potentially be used for any IT product category where product-specific criteria documents are not applicable. However, before a product can be certified to TCO Certified, generation 10, general, TCO Development must evaluate the applicability of each criterion.
Currently, the general criteria document covers servers, data storage, network equipment, projectors and imaging equipment.
