Our History
Sustainability certification for IT products
TCO Development has advanced sustainable IT internationally since 1992. Our mission is to ensure that environmental, social and economic considerations are included in the manufacture, use and recycling of IT products. We make it easier for your organization to include sustainability criteria in your IT purchasing, as well as verify those criteria with the support of our third party certification, TCO Certified. TCO Development is owned by TCO, a non-profit organization based in Stockholm, Sweden.
20 years of advancing sustainable IT
TCO Development is widely recognized for TCO Certified, the international sustainability certification for IT products. 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of TCO Certified. Below is a brief timeline of TCO certification since it began in 1992.
- 1992 – the first TCO certification is introduced, focusing on low emissions and reduced energy consumption in displays
- 1995 – criteria to reduce hazardous material content – chemicals, flame retardants and heavy metals
- 1999 – ISO 14001 required, tighter criteria for display image quality and visual ergonomics
- 2000 -2009 – stricter environmental criteria in line with technology developments buyer demands.
- 2009 – requirements for social responsibility in production introduced
- 2012 – Launch of new generation TCO Certified – the sustainability label for IT products
Health and safety in focus
The background to TCO Certified began in the 1980′s as computers were gradually introduced into office workspaces. As people began to work more with computers, health & safety concerns emerged. Poor ergonomic design and high levels of electro-magnetic emissions were cause for concern, along with high energy consumption. At that time TCO began working with users and industry to develop mutually beneficial solutions.
The first TCO certification
In 1992, TCO Development was founded and began working with the SEMKO laboratory in Sweden to develop a method for measuring electro-magnetic emissions from a computer display. The result was a certification that proved beneficial for corporate buyers, users and the IT industry alike. Display manufacturers were able to employ new technologies to reduce emissions and energy consumption. Buyers were able to use TCO certification to identify which displays featured reduced emissions and the users received a reassurance of an IT product that was verified for these quality factors.
International Impact
From the beginning, TCO Certified has been an international program and has been able to influence the IT industry to develop products along more sustainable lines. TCO certification was the first environmental label for IT products. Today, TCO Development is still solving sustainable IT challenges through the TCO Certified program and its stakeholders.
Together we can make a difference and move IT in a more sustainable direction!
