From goals to action – inside the TCO Certified Roadmap

That’s where Roadmap for Sustainable IT comes in. Developed under the leadership of Niclas Rydell, director of TCO Certified, it outlines a long-term strategy for the coming decade. The roadmap is updated every three years with each new generation of TCO Certified, providing concrete steps along the way.

Too often, sustainability efforts in IT are reactive – responding to problems as they appear. The roadmap flips that model. It maps out where we want to go, why it matters, and what steps are needed to get there. By outlining which criteria will come next and when, the roadmap makes it easier for both brands and buyers to plan, prepare, and contribute toward real progress – together. Because the aim isn’t to shift the goalposts; it’s to make them visible, and invite more people onto the playing field.

Put simply, the roadmap is much more than a document. Rather, it serves as a dynamic platform for negotiation with the IT industry: working out how sustainability demands can be met at a pace that’s both ambitious and achievable. Several times a year, we meet with IT brands, researchers, and technical experts to discuss what the next generations of TCO Certified can – and should – include.

And to further increase leverage, purchasers have a seat at the negotiation table. Their role is central – not just in using the certification, but in shaping what it should require next. TCO Certified gives them a shortcut to demanding higher standards without having to audit every supplier themselves. Through the Purchaser Advisory Forum (PAF), buyers can discuss what they want to see next, share best practices, and help ensure new criteria reflect their procurement needs.

The roadmap focuses on four key areas where change is most urgently needed: climate, substances, circularity, and supply chains. Each area has a dedicated strategy, with several long-term goals – and clearly defined steps to get there.

Climate refers to the carbon footprint of IT products, and how to reduce it. Most emissions occur during manufacturing, making it the biggest hotspot in the product lifecycle. By 2033, brands with certified products are expected to implement verified best practices for reducing emissions – such as increased use of renewable energy – and to share their methods with each other along the way. In addition, a new metric, the annualized product carbon footprint, links emissions to how long a product is used, encouraging both extended lifespans and energy-efficient production.

Substances are addressed through a proactive approach, where chemicals are treated as hazardous until proven otherwise. Only those independently assessed to be safer alternatives make the TCO Certified Accepted Substance List. The criteria are expanding further up the supply chain, and also include process chemicals used in manufacturing – helping improve worker safety, especially in regions with weaker regulation.

Circularity focuses on keeping products in use for as long as possible. The roadmap sets a clear target: a supported product lifetime of ten years by 2033, with today’s criteria already including five years of warranties and software updates. To further support circular procurement, two new tools have been introduced: an independently verified repairability index, and a unique product identifier. The identifier is a key step toward the introduction of digital product passports in 2027, giving users access to information on components and repair guides via a QR code.

Supply chain responsibility is especially challenging in complex global networks, even for the IT brands themselves. TCO Certified Accepted Factory List not only encourages responsible practices but turns them into a competitive advantage. New criteria extend further up the chain – starting with display panel factories – and include living wages, cleanroom water management, and responsible sourcing of conflict minerals.