Sustainable IT for Beginners

TCO Certified — so much more than an ecolabel

TCO Certified makes it easier to select IT products with lower environmental and social impact. Criteria areas include hazardous substances, circularity, socially responsible manufacturing, environmentally responsible manufacturing, and much more. With certified products, you know what you get. All criteria apply globally and are mandatory, tough, and independently verified.

Sustainable IT procurement can help you avoid risk and push for more sustainable solutions. TCO Certified makes it easier to get the results you’re aiming for without having deep knowledge of sustainability or a network of experts that have access to factories all over the world. We set relevant criteria and verify compliance for you, saving you time and resources. The certification helps get your voice directly into the IT supply chain, where the majority of the product’s lifetime sustainability impacts are found.

Environmental and social criteria with direct impact

Criteria in TCO Certified go beyond legislation and industry standards to challenge the IT industry and drive progress. A new generation of updated criteria is developed every third year, to drive incremental change and push sustainability where it matters most. All criteria are mandatory, which means that all certified products must meet all criteria for their product category in TCO Certified.

20,000 hours of independent verification each year

With TCO Certified, compliance with all criteria is independently verified by accredited experts. Independent verification organizations spend more than 20,000 hours on product testing and supply chain assessments each year. Verification is mandatory and continuous — it is carried out both before and after certification, throughout the certificate’s validity period.

We detect issues — and make sure that they are solved

When sustainability issues are found, we ensure progress by holding the industry accountable for also solving the problems. Our structured system for continuous improvements guides the IT product brand owner and its suppliers to more sustainable practices whilst ensuring that your risk of being subject to greenwash and bluewash is minimized. Corrective action plans must be developed and implemented within a set timeframe. Non-compliance is met with real consequences — certificates can be removed, and factories may lose the right to manufacture certified products.

Wide choice of certified products from the brands you know

Thousands of product models from the brands you know and use are already certified. You can find them all at our Product Finder. TCO Certified is available for 12 product categories: displays, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, desktops, all-in-one PCs, projectors, headsets, imaging equipment, network equipment, data storage products, and servers.

Why use TCO Certified?

  • An easy tool for purchasers that is free to use.
  • Gets your voice directly into the IT supply chain.
  • Helps you prove your sustainability efforts and avoid greenwashing.
Chapter 1
Sustainability risks connected to IT products — an overview

IT products come with a large number of sustainability risks. The majority happen in the supply chain and are hidden from the purchaser’s view.

Chapter 2
Strategic IT procurement helps you drive sustainable progress

IT procurement can help your organization meet sustainability goals, lower environmental and social risk, and drive progress that really counts.

Chapter 3
Avoiding greenwash and bluewash in IT management and reporting

Greenwashing and bluewashing are increasingly becoming key issues for professional purchasers. Independent proof helps you avoid false claims.

Chapter 4
TCO Certified — so much more than an ecolabel

TCO Certified helps you select IT products with lower environmental and social impact. Compliance with all criteria is independently verified.

Chapter 5
How to use TCO Certified in procurement

It’s time to get started! These five steps help you plan your work with sustainable procurement. TCO Certified saves you time and resources.