TCO Certified™: The Leading Global Sustainability Certification for Electronics

What is TCO Certified™?

TCO Certified™ is a globally recognized sustainability certification developed by TCO Development, a Swedish organization affiliated with the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees. It sets comprehensive criteria for environmental and social responsibility in electronics across four key areas: climate, substances, circularity, and supply chain.

Since its launch in 1992, the certification has evolved into its current version—TCO Certified Generation 10—covering a wide range of IT products. These include displays, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, desktops, all-in-one PCs, headsets, and general, making TCO Certified™ a key benchmark in green procurement and corporate sustainability initiatives worldwide.

Image source: official TCO Certified website

Scope of TCO Certified™

TCO Certified™ applies to a broad range of IT and office equipment, including:

• Displays
• Notebooks
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• Desktops
• All-in-one PCs
• Headsets
• Other IT products that meet the certification criteria

Core Requirements of TCO Certified™

To achieve TCO Certified™, products must meet strict criteria across the following domains:

Climate

The certification promotes lower carbon footprints and improved energy efficiency through:

• Durable product design to extend lifespan and reduce annual emissions
• Renewable energy usage and energy management in manufacturing facilities
• Lower direct emissions via energy-efficient product operation
• Sharing of best practices to encourage climate-positive innovation across the supply chain

Substances

TCO Certified™ strengthens chemical safety in products, packaging, and manufacturing by:

• Requiring third-party assessment (e.g., GreenScreen® or ChemFORWARD) for s substances
• Publishing an open Accepted Substances List (TCO ASL) to promote transparency and safer chemistry
• Ongoing toxicological reviews of chemicals, including cleaning agents, solvents, flame retardants, plasticizers, and stabilizers

Circularity

To promote circular economy practices in the electronics industry, TCO Certified™:

• Encourages repairability, upgradeability, and long product lifespans (minimum five years with warranty and free updates)
• Requires design strategies to reduce e-waste and increase reusability of components
• Assigns a unique product ID to support digital product passports and traceable product data

Supply Chain

TCO Certified™ enforces ethical and safe working conditions throughout the IT supply chain by:

• Ensuring compliance with labor laws, ILO Core Conventions, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and anti-corruption standards
• Conducting independent factory audits and requiring corrective action plans for non-compliance
• Mandating disclosure of major suppliers, including sub-suppliers and mineral sourcing locations
• Requiring adherence to international standards for environmental and energy management

TCO Accepted Substances List (TCO ASL)

The TCO ASL is a curated list of chemicals permitted in TCO Certified™ products, based on third-party hazard assessments.

To be included, substances must meet one of the following:

• GreenScreen® Benchmark 2, 3, or 4 (assessed by authorized assessors)
• ChemFORWARD rating of A, B, or C (assessed by authorized assessors)

The current list includes:

• Cleaning agents
• Solvents
• Flame retardants
• Plasticizers
• Stabilizers

Our Services

As currently the only organization in Asia authorized to conduct both GreenScreen® and ChemFORWARDassessments, REACH24H Consulting Group offers expert compliance solutions tailored to TCO Certified™ requirements.

We can help your company with:

Chemical Hazard Assessment

Using GreenScreen or ChemFORWARD methodologies, we assess chemical hazards and assist in listing approved substances in the TCO ASL.

Safer Chemical Alternatives

We help identify and transition to safer alternatives through ChemFORWARD’s global database, enabling compliance and innovation.

Supply Chain Management

We support the development of transparent, environmentally compliant supply chains, ensuring every stage—from raw material to final product—aligns with sustainability goals.

Join Us in Advancing Sustainable Electronics

As the global electronics industry accelerates toward greener practices, REACH24H is here to support your journey. Let’s work together to promote safer materials, ethical supply chains, and long-lasting product design—paving the way for a sustainable digital future.