ISO 14024: rules for a third party certification
The ISO 14024 standard establishes the principles and procedures for ecolabels and certifications that include indpendent verification, ensuring that consumers and professional purchasers are given accurate, comparable information.
This standard, set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), includes the selection of product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics, and for assessing and demonstrating compliance.
The definition of an ISO 14024 Type 1 label is: “a voluntary, multiple-criteria based, third party program that awards a license that authorizes the use of environmental labels on products indicating overall environmental preferability of a product within a particular product category based on life cycle considerations.”
Guiding principles of ISO 14024
This is an overview of the standard. For full information, contact ISO.
| 5.1 | Voluntary nature |
| 5.2 | ISO 14020 Principles apply |
| 5.3 | Applicants comply with environmental and other relevant legislation |
| 5.4 | Criteria development includes comprehensive life cycle consideration approach |
| 5.5 | Environmental criteria differentiate environmentally preferable products from others |
| 5.6 | Criteria based on indicators arising from life cycle considerations. Criteria set at attainable and measurable levels |
| 5.7 | Fitness for purpose and levels of performance [of products] taken into account in developing criteria |
| 5.8 | Criteria are set with a predefined validity period. Criteria and product function requirements are reviewed, and potentially revised, within a predefined time period |
| 5.9 | Formal open participation process for selection and review of product categories, environmental criteria and product function characteristics |
| 5.10 | All [product] environmental criteria and function characteristics are verifiable. Compliance assessment incorporates generally acceptable standards and methods |
| 5.11 | Transparency exists through all stages of ecolabelling program development and operation; information on significant program aspects is available for inspection and comment by interested parties |
| 5.12 | Unnecessary obstacles to international trade don't exist |
| 5.13 | Application and participation is open to all potential applicants |
| 5.14 | Development and selection of criteria based on sound scientific and engineering principles |
| 5.15 | Program is free from undue influence |
| 5.16 | Any fees are kept as low as possible and applied equitably to all applicants and licensees |
| 5.17 | Confidentiality of pertinent information is maintained |
| 5.18 | Mutual recognition is deemed desirable |
Examples of how TCO Certified comply with ISO 14024
Based on scientific principles
Criteria and verification methods are science based and are developed in an open process with our international network of stakeholders that includes users, buyers, brands, manufacturers, researchers, NGOs and subject matter experts.
Transparent and open
Anyone can access the criteria and verification methods, free of charge.
Challenging criteria that are revised regularly
Criteria are designed to challenge the industry to become more sustainable. A new generation of criteria and verification methods are developed every three years to meet new sustainability challenges and technology developments.
Comprehensive life cycle approach
Criteria are comprehensive and cover challenges throughout the product life cycle.
Verifiable criteria that are independently assessed
Compliance is verifiable. All verification of compliance is handled by independent verifiers accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025. With multiple accredited test and verification organizations, each site must deliver accurate, repeatable results, regardless of location. Each test and verification body is therefore reviewed regularly, both by TCO Development and independent accreditation.
Free from undue influence
The certification is independent to producers and buyers and the organization behind the certification, TCO Development, is impartial during the verification process.
The certification system is regularly reviewed, both internally and externally. The system has been assessed by the Global Ecolabelling Network as part of the GENICES peer review process.
Voluntary nature
TCO Certified is a voluntary program, open for anyone to use.