Four steps to getting your products certified
If this is the first time you apply to get your products approved and certified, it will be challenging, and it will take time to implement all the required processes. Applying for TCO Certified means that you are committing to a system for continuous improvement within sustainability. Taking the first steps may seem very challenging, but once you’re used to it, it provides a systematic approach that makes your work with sustainability more efficient.
During the application process, an independent verification organization evaluates your product and supply chain. We refer to these organizations as approved verifiers, or verifiers for short. The verifiers are accredited according to ISO 17025 by national accreditation bodies and also participate in our qualification program and quality control process, ensuring that applications are processed as fairly as possible. You can select to use any of the approved verifiers that we have listed on our website. Please note which product categories they are approved for.
Step 1: prepare
REVIEW CRITERIA
Review relevant criteria for your product category.
Several criteria are common to all product categories, while others are product-specific. Make sure to be familiar with the criteria and verification methods relevant to your product. If your product category is other than displays, notebooks, tablets, desktops, all-in-one PCs, smartphones or headsets, please have a look at the “general” category.
MEET WITH US
Book an introductory meeting with TCO Development, online or in person.
If you apply for the first time, a meeting with our certification team will help you get to know TCO Certified and the certification process. Contact our certification team to set it up.
SIGN AGREEMENT
Prior to certifying your products, sign an agreement with TCO Development.
If you’re a first-time customer, you need to sign an agreement with TCO Development before applying for certification. Contact us for details.
CONTACT A VERIFIER
Contact one of the verifiers approved by TCO Development.
The verifier conducts product testing and confirms whether the products meet the criteria in TCO Certified. It’s a good idea to contact a verifier at an early stage, as they are familiar with how fulfillment needs to be proven. You may want to contact multiple verifiers before deciding which one to work with.
Step 2: test and verify
PRODUCT TESTING
Send a sample of your product for testing.
Send a representative product sample to an approved verification organization for testing. The verifier will check its compliance with the performance-related criteria. Separate test fees will apply; please consult the verifier for further details. Tests differ across product categories, such as energy consumption and visual parameters. For certain product categories, a test sample is not needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
Send the documentation related to social and environmental responsibility to the approved verifier.
Submit the required proof of compliance such as copies of ISO certificates, audit reports, a list of assembly factories and other documents to the approved verifier. Each criterion includes information about which documentation is required.
RECEIVE REPORTS
If the product and related documentation are approved by the verifier, you will receive the Verification Of Conformity.
It includes the test reports, the environmental and social approvals and the verification of conformity (VOC) document, in which the verifier confirms that the product meets all the criteria in TCO Certified.
Step 3: apply for TCO Certified
APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
Upon your request, the verifier will upload the application along with all necessary documentation to TCO Certified Portal. We will then review all uploaded documents to ensure that the application is complete.
Step 4: your product is certified! Be ready to submit data annually
PROMOTE YOUR CERTIFIED PRODUCTS
Congratulations! Your product model is now certified, and you have taken the next step in social and environmental responsibility.
Having certified products helps you reduce environmental and social risks linked to your IT products and their manufacturing, and allows you to communicate credibly about product sustainability.
You will receive a certificate (as a PDF file), and all certified products will be listed in our Product Finder. We encourage you to use the TCO Certified brand in your communications related to certified products. For guidance, check our brand book.
Annual reporting
Some of the criteria require you to report on aspects such as the energy sources used in manufacturing, and the outcomes from the annual interview with the Senior Management Representative (SMR). As long as the certificate is active, you must continue to deliver data on an annual basis. Please check the criteria document for details.