Summary of the report ”The State of Social Responsibility in Manufacturing in the IT-industry”

Increasingly, IT-using organizations are looking for computer products that are environmentally preferable and made under socially responsible conditions. Yet, shorter product cycles and growing demand for new technologies puts increasing pressure on industry and its complex supply chain to deliver new devices faster and at a lower cost. The result is often inadequate working conditions in electronics manufacturing, including long working hours, low wages and a lack of health and safety measures. The problem is widespread and well publicized through media and NGO monitoring.

In an effort to provide a solution for buyers looking for sustainably made products and a structure for industry to pursue more responsible manufacturing processes, TCO Development introduced initial criteria for socially responsible manufacturing in the TCO Certified sustainability certification for IT products in 2009. This was followed by expanded criteria and verification routines in 2012. The purpose was to set in place a structure and create a more transparent dialog with industry that TCO Development believes is necessary for real improvement and greater brand responsibility to take place.

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TCO Development has compiled findings as seen among the first 17 brands that certified products according to the new criteria during the first year of validity –September, 2012-September, 2013. This report includes findings and data from this first compliance period.

Criteria and value-based goals

The expanded criteria introduced in 2012 center upon brand adherence to the eight ILO Core Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and labor and social protection laws in the country of manufacture. TCO Development has set three value-based goals with the new criteria;

  1. Responsibility – increased manufacturer / brand responsibility for ensuring safe and ethical working conditions in manufacturing facilities
  2. Structure – establish an equal-access, objective platform for gradual improvements, including defined controls and benchmarks
  3. Transparency – improved and open dialog about social issues between brands, manufacturers and other stakeholders

Measuring progress against these goals allows us to monitor progress toward achieving greater sustainable development in the manufacturing phase of the IT product life cycle.