With 2026 in full swing, we checked in with Clare Hobby from our purchaser engagement team to see what’s driving action in sustainable purchasing right now. Faced with changing market conditions and geopolitical shifts, what are the key issues on the table?
According to the IT purchasers we’ve talked to, there’s no doubt about it: despite global uncertainty, sustainability remains firmly on the agenda. What has changed is how it is positioned – we’re now seeing a greater focus on cost efficiency, business continuity, and enabling resilience.
We see three trends defining sustainable IT procurement in 2026:
1. Sustainability as a resilience strategy
As geopolitical shifts and market uncertainty carry over into 2026, purchasers are focusing on what they can control: cost and risk. Here, sustainability is increasingly seen as part of that solution.
Longer-lasting, repairable products help lower lifetime cost and reduce unexpected downtime. Responsible manufacturing and safer substances reduce the risk of compliance issues and reputational setbacks. In short, sustainability helps build stability.
How TCO Certified helps
- TCO Certified’s circularity criteria require a five-year minimum supported product life, including the provision of extended warranties and software updates.
- Our Product Finder features verified repairability scores that help identify products that are truly built for long-term use.
2. Getting real on scope 3 reductions
While pressure to reduce scope 3 emissions remains strong, many purchasers are frustrated with how today’s inconsistent carbon footprint data makes it difficult to assess products and make strategic decisions. At the same time, they understand that there isn’t time to wait for perfect data.
Instead, they are balancing the need for more accurate reporting with real emissions reductions in the supply chain, where around 80-90% of an IT product’s emissions occur. Procurement teams are beginning to use their leverage more actively by including scope 3-related requirements in tenders, setting emissions KPIs, and engaging suppliers in concrete reduction plans.
How TCO Certified helps
- TCO Certified introduces the annualized product carbon footprint measurement, linking emissions to how long a product is used. The longer a product stays in use, the lower its emissions per year.
- TCO Certified also provides a platform incentivizing IT brands to share verified emission reduction efforts, where those who adopt strategies from a best practices list are rewarded with lower annualized product carbon footprints.
3. Continuity of supply as a priority
Recent market disruptions have exposed how vulnerable global supply chains can be. Material shortages and political tensions have revealed weaknesses, making continuity of supply central to long-term stability in 2026. Many purchasers are utilizing tactics such as diversifying suppliers and building deeper partnerships to jointly manage risk and buffer against disruption.
Sustainability plays a growing role in this shift. Organizations are demanding greater transparency from suppliers and using sustainability systems as part of risk assessment – not just as a compliance checklist. Structured monitoring and clear requirements create predictability and help prevent corner cutting.
How TCO Certified helps
- TCO Certified’s supply chain criteria are built around transparency and continuous improvement. Requirements and benchmarks remain consistent, even in cases of manufacturing location shifts or changes in product design.
- TCO Certified Accepted Factory List helps IT brands identify factories committed to high sustainability standards. With 180 factories on the list and part of our ongoing monitoring, purchasers can be confident that compliance is consistently maintained.
Adressing uncertaintly in procurement can be challenging. By citing TCO Certified in your specifications, you set requirements that are relevant, verifiable, and aligned with long term responsibility – while sending a clear and consistent signal to the IT industry that sustainability is a priority.
TCO Certified is a global, comprehensive sustainability certification with everything included. It addresses sustainability issues connected to IT products and their supply chains and helps you make responsible choices, reduce risk, and meet regulatory obligations.
Do you want to discuss sustainable procurement in your local language? Our dedicated purchaser support team is here to help. Contact us!
