TCO Certified unveils new IT sustainability criteria focus

TCO Certified has announced new criteria for its sustainability certification in IT products. The criteria aim to address major challenges such as e-waste and supply chain accountability.

With a history spanning over 30 years, TCO Certified is known as the global standard for sustainability in IT products, and it originated in Sweden. The upcoming criteria updates, set for release in December, represent the tenth generation of the certification. This iteration focuses on reducing climate impact, extending product lifespans, and maintaining ethical supply chains, all with verification by independent experts.

The new criteria are designed to tackle pressing issues in the IT sector. These include reducing e-waste, improving Scope 3 emissions reporting, handling hazardous substances, and ensuring supply chain accountability. The updated certification introduces annualised product carbon footprints and stricter standards for repairability to promote product longevity. This approach is significant given the 62 million metric tons of e-waste generated annually.

The initiative highlights a key connection between technological advancement and environmental responsibility. It aims to align IT brands with purchasers who are eager to meet sustainability objectives in a regulated context. This update showcases how certifications can effect systemic change, making sustainability practical in tech-intensive industries.

Clare Hobby from TCO Development is a key spokesperson available for discussions on the implications of these criteria. "The tenth generation of TCO Certified means IT decision makers and purchasers can focus on longer product lifespans, improved repairability, and stricter social responsibility requirements in the supply chain," she explained. "Extended product use not only benefits the environment but can also lead to cost savings over time."

Hobby also elaborated on the relevance of these changes to current sustainability reporting demands. Furthermore, she shared insights into TCO Development's vision for the future of sustainable IT, noting relevant trends in technology advancement and purchasing behaviour.

Hobby shared an interesting anecdote about the company's CEO still using a computer that is over ten years old. This is a practical example of the commitment to sustainability and extended product usage, reinforcing the message that longevity is feasible in practice and theory.