Sustainable IT procurement guides help purchasers succeed

Computers, displays and other IT products come with a number of sustainability risks, such as conflict minerals, hazardous substances and poor working conditions in the supply chain. Choosing IT products that are better for people and the planet can make a big difference.

“The expanding role of procurement means that issues like climate impact, waste diversion and supply chain ethics are now priority factors with each purchase. We want to help IT purchasers address both environmental and supply chain responsibility risk connected to the electronics they buy”, says Clare Hobby Director Purchaser Engagement Global at TCO Development, the organization behind TCO Certified.

The collection of guides includes four core documents to help purchasers get started or advance in their sustainable procurement.

A step-by-step guide takes you through the procurement process and explains what you need to do to get started with sustainable IT procurement using TCO Certified.

A detailed summary of all criteria included in TCO Certified and a brief overview of how compliance is independently verified.

Suggested language for including TCO Certified in tenders, policies, and other procurement documentation.

For purchasers that are required to accept equivalent proof of compliance with TCO Certified, this guide outlines the specific proof you need to ask for.

Using a reputable certification makes sustainable procurement both easier and more efficient, since the purchaser gets access to a number of ready-made criteria, and doesn’t have to do that work themselves. However, to make the criteria effective, compliance must be independently verified. Simply trusting product information or self-declarations is not enough, and may lead to unfair comparisons and greenwash.

TCO Certified is based on a well established and effective system of mandatory, independent verification that holds the industry accountable, ensuring that non-compliances are corrected and monitored. Every year, independent verifiers spend more than 20,000 hours on product testing, factory inspections, and follow-up, making TCO Certified one of the most robust certification systems on the market.

“What’s unique and most effective about our verification system is that it’s not optional — it’s mandatory for all the products we certify, as well as the factories where they’re made. So purchasing organizations can use TCO Certified with a high level of confidence that it leads to real change,“ Clare Hobby continues.