Definitions and references

This guide clarifies definitions, methodologies and references used in the TCO Certified Report Generator and IT Product Sustainability Reports.

Each IT Product Sustainability report delivers verified data and claims you can use to assess the impacts of your TCO Certified product portfolio, divided into the four sustainability pillars of TCO Certified:

Climate

Substances

Circularity

Supply chain

For each chapter, you can find further information and clarification on definitions, methodologies and references used to calculate report content.

Information required to generate a report

To create an IT Product Sustainability Report, you will first need to visit Product Finder to select certified product models you have purchased and want to include in your report. This product selection is called your product portfolio.

Once you’ve created your product portfolio, you have the option of creating your Sustainable IT Product Report in Report Generator.

1. Climate

Verified Data provided in the report

  • Total carbon footprint, by product and aggregated
  • Breakdown of total carbon footprint, by scope and product category
  • Yearly carbon footprint reduction potential, by product

Definitions

  • Product Carbon Footprint (PCF): combined value of scope 2 and 3 emissions
  • Scope 2 Carbon emissions: emissions during the product use phase
  • Scope 3 Carbon emissions: emissions in the supply chain / manufacturing of the product

Methodology used

  1. Carbon emissions figures are estimates based on a combination of typical product configurations, use patterns, and averages. All data are independently verified for accuracy.
  2. Scope 2 calculations are based on ENERGY STAR TEC (typical energy consumption) values for typical configurations of each product model and the 2021 average of Co2e per consumed kWh of electricity, specific to the selected country of use, as provided by Electricity Maps. In the case of multiple configurations being tested, the worst case scenario (highest consumption) is applied.
  3. Product Carbon Footprint data is calculated based on average PCF measurements in the product category. Scope 3 calculations are based on the research on carbon footprint by Justin Sutton-Parker, PhD, Warwick University

References

TCO Certified criteria document: See chapter 3.

2. Substances

Verified claims provided in the report

Inclusion of safer flame retardants, plasticizers and cleaning chemicals in certified product models, in accordance with TCO Certified Accepted Substances List

Definitions

Due to a variety of associated human health and environmental hazards, TCO Certified requires that any chemical substances from the following three categories, and used in certified products, are assessed and listed on the TCO Certified Accepted Substance List.

  • Flame retardants: added to prevent ignition and spread of flame in plastic material to meet electrical safety standards. Commonly added to cables, printed circuit boards and the product housing of IT products.
  • Plasticizers: added to make plastics softer and more flexible. Commonly used in PVC cables.
  • Cleaners: substances – typically cleaning solvents – used to remove oil, grease, solder flux and other contaminates from product housing, PCBs and machinery in manufacturing.

Methodology used

  1. Substances included on TCO Certified Accepted Substance List must be independently assessed to achieve a minimum benchmark score of 2 in accordance with the GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals framework.

References

  • TCO Certified criteria documents: “See chapters 2, 7.
  • Clean Electronics Production Network: (CEPN): The Clean Electronics Production Network unites diverse stakeholders to understand, address, and eliminate workers’ exposure to toxic chemicals in the electronics supply chain
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): An agency of the European Union, working for the safe use of chemicals.
  • GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals: an initiative of Unitar – GHS sets criteria for the classification of chemical hazards and offers protective measures through labels and safety data sheets.
  • GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals: GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals is a method of comparative Chemical Hazard Assessment (CHA) that can be used for identifying chemicals of high concern and safer alternatives. GreenScreen is a project of Clean Production Action.
  • OECD: establishes evidence-based international standards and solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges, including research on chemical safety.
  • US EPA DfE Alternatives Assessment: EPA-developed tool for evaluating and differentiating among chemicals based on their human health and environmental hazards.

3. Circularity

Data provided in the report

  • Material footprint, by product and aggregated
  • Breakdown of product portfolio weight
    • By product category
    • By material type
  • Yearly e-waste reduction potential, by product

Definitions

  • Recycled plastics: Post-consumer recycled plastics, derived from used consumer products, often packaging, bottles and durable goods including IT products.
  • Virgin plastics: Plastics other than post-consumer recycled plastics
  • Other materials: Non-plastic material.
  • Annualized e-waste footprint: E-waste generated on an annualized basis.
  • Material footprint – Product weight, plastic weight, recycled plastic content

Methodology used

The certification process for TCO Certified requires the following information for each product model:

  1. Percentage of post-consumer recycled plastics by weight versus the total weight of all plastics.
  2. A verification report from an approved independent verifier documenting post-consumer recycled content of all parts with a weight above 0.5g.

References

TCO Certified criteria documents: See chapter 3

4. Supply chain

Data provided in the report

  • Number of affected workers, where available, in the final assembly of the products in your portfolio. Data is based on the most recent factory audit report.
  • Factory compliance with conventions, standards and criteria for socially responsible manufacturing.

Definitions

  • Affected workers: Workers in final assembly facilities manufacturing certified product models.
  • Final assembly: Factory where the final assembly of the certified product is taking place, defined as the whole operation covered by a business license.

Methodology used

The certification process for TCO Certified requires the following:

  1. Verified compliance with all criteria listed in the claims section in this chapter and as specified in TCO Certified criteria documents.
  2. All final assembly factories manufacturing certified product models are included in TCO Certified Accepted Factory List* and are assigned a risk category for continued factory monitoring.

References

  • TCO Certified criteria documents: See chapter 2
  • TCO Certified Accepted Substance List: List of flame retardants, plasticizers and process chemicals that have been tested and are considered safer alternatives and may be used in the products and manufacture of certified products.
  • TCO Certified Accepted Factory List: List of factories accepted to manufacture certified products and included in risk-based ongoing monitoring. This list includes information such as the risk category, a list of audit non-conformities and due dates for submitting supporting documentation.
  • Clean Electronics Production Network: (CEPN): The Clean Electronics Production Network unites diverse stakeholders to understand, address, and eliminate workers’ exposure to toxic chemicals in the electronics supply chain
  • GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals: GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals is a method of comparative Chemical Hazard Assessment (CHA) that can be used for identifying chemicals of high concern and safer alternatives.
  • ILO Core Conventions: Conventions 29 (Forced labor), 87 (Freedom of Association), 98 (Right to Organize), 100 (Equal Remuneration), 105 (Forced Labor), 111(Discrimination), 138 (Minimum Age), 182 (Child Labor).
  • ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management system – in accordance with ISO 3700..
  • ISO 14000: Environmentally responsible manufacturing – final assembly factories must be certified in accordance with ISO 14001.
  • ISO 50001: Energy efficient manufacturing – final assembly factories must be certified in accordance with ISO 50001.
  • OECD Responsibly sourced minerals: identification of smelters and refiners in accordance with OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk areas.
  • UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child: Article 32 – protection from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of the TCO Development Report Generator?

When you purchase IT products that carry the TCO Certified certification, Report Generator allows you to create a customized IT Product Sustainability Report. Each report helps you measure the sustainability impact of your IT product portfolio in four main areas: Climate, Substances, Circularity and Supply Chain.

Any organization citing TCO Certified when purchasing IT products can use Report Generator to assess the impact of purchasing and using certified products.

Report Generator allows you to create a customized IT Product Sustainability Report that provides verified data and claims in four main areas: Climate, Substances, Circularity and Supply Chain, specific to your portfolio of certified models you purchase and use.

When you log into your account, Report Generator will guide you to the TCO Certified Product Finder, where you can build your Product Portfolio. Your customized report will be based on the models included in your Portfolio.

Yes. Carbon intensity data ( as provided by Electricity Maps) varies for each country, so each report is country-specific. For each country where you have operations, please create a specific report.

When you have created your report, it will be downloadable as a PDF.

You are free to use the verified data and claims included in your report for your sustainability communications and reporting purposes. Before doing so, please make sure to familiarize yourself with the methodologies and references used in Report Generator, along with the Terms and Conditions

When referencing data and claims from your IT Product Sustainability Report, please cite TCO Certified IT Product Sustainability Report as a source.

Above, we have defined methodology used for each chapter in the report: climate, substances, circularity and supply chain.

Terms and conditions

The purpose of the Report Generator is to provide users of TCO Certified with sustainability data connected to product models certified according to TCO Certified. All certified products are listed at our Product Finder.

Data and claims contained in each IT Product Sustainability Report consist of a combination of estimated use patterns, averages, and third-party verified measurements. Some of the metrics – including, but not limited to – the carbon intensity of electricity consumption and the service life of the products, are predictions of future scenarios and are based on user input and data available at the time of report creation. As actual values may change over time, TCO Development cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of such data. ,
Any user claims that are based on content in Report Generator or IT Product Sustainability Reports are the sole responsibility of the user and are not validated or endorsed by TCO Development or the TCO Certified trademark. TCO Development is not responsible for ensuring that data submitted by the user is correct or valid, or that the data generated by Report Generator is used correctly in sustainability claims made by the user.

Use of this service for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms and conditions is not permitted. You may not use the service in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any TCO Development server, or the network(s) connected to any TCO Development server, or interfere with any other party’s use of any services.

Privacy and integrity policy