Site Logo

Sustainable IT procurement guides help purchasers succeed

Four new TCO Certified informative guides aim to help organisations take social and environmental responsibility when purchasing IT products. 

Computers, displays and other IT products come with a number of sustainability risks, such as conflict minerals, hazardous substances and poor working conditions in the supply chain. Choosing IT products that are better for people and the planet can make a big difference. 

Clare Hobby Director Purchaser Engagement Global at TCO Development said, "the expanding role of procurement means that issues like climate impact, waste diversion and supply chain ethics are now priority factors with each purchase. We want to help IT purchasers address both environmental and supply chain responsibility risk connected to the electronics they buy."

The collection of guides includes four core documents to help purchasers get started or advance in their sustainable procurement. 

A guide to sustainable IT purchasing with TCO Certified A step-by-step guide takes you through the procurement process and explains what you need to do to get started with sustainable IT procurement using TCO Certified.

Summary of criteria in TCO Certified, generation 8 A detailed summary of all criteria included in TCO Certified and a brief overview of how compliance is independently verified.

Recommended language for using TCO Certified in procurement Suggested language for including TCO Certified in tenders, policies, and other procurement documentation.

Equivalent proof of compliance
For purchasers that are required to accept equivalent proof of compliance with TCO Certified, this guide outlines the specific proof you need to ask for. 

Using a reputable certification makes sustainable procurement both easier and more efficient since the purchaser gets access to a number of ready-made criteria and doesn't have to do that work themselves. However, to make the criteria effective, compliance must be independently verified. Simply trusting product information or self-declarations is not enough, and may lead to unfair comparisons and greenwash. 

TCO Certified is based on a well established and effective system of mandatory, independent verification that holds the industry accountable, ensuring that non-compliances are corrected and monitored. Every year, independent verifiers spend more than 20,000 hours on product testing, factory inspections, and follow-up, making TCO Certified one of the most robust certification systems on the market.

Clare added, "what's unique and most effective about our verification system is that it's not optional - it's mandatory for all the products we certify, as well as the factories where they're made. So purchasing organizations can use TCO Certified with a high level of confidence that it leads to real change."

Find more information and access the guides here.

More News
1 month ago
How to prepare for the new changes to employment laws
Employment laws are due an overhaul in April, with changes to flexible working, request amends, and protection for new parents and carer's leave, among other changes. Vivek Dodd, CEO of Skillcast, warns that failure to comply could result in serious consequences.
1 month ago
British Safety Council Keep Thriving workshop to take place in Cardiff
As part of its charitable work, British Safety Council is offering SMEs and micro-sized organisations in Cardiff the chance to attend a 3-hour workshop, delivered by its Being Well Together experts, completely free of charge to explore how to develop a well-being strategy.
1 month ago
Mitel appoints new SVP and Head of International Region
Mitel, experts in business communications, has announced the appointment of Simon Skellon as SVP and Head of International Region.
1 month ago
VIPRE Security Group appoints new General Manager of Business Security Division
VIPRE Security Group, a cybersecurity solutions provider, has appointed Usman Choudhary as General Manager of its Business Security Division, encompassing VIPRE EDR and Advanced Threat Protection for Email, SafeSend for Email, and Inspired eLearning security awareness training.
1 month ago
Ascentae unveils smart workplace experience centre
Ascentae, a UK-based workplace solution and value-added distributor, has announced the opening of a new Experience Centre in the heart of Clerkenwell, London.
1 month ago
IT at forefront of sustainability efforts, but lacks proper tools and expertise
A report commissioned by OpenText has found that IT departments are playing a major role in achieving corporate sustainability objectives and cited the lack of innovative tools and expertise as the primary challenges they face in meeting those goals.
1 month ago
Harrison provides bespoke manufacturing services to B&Q stores
B&Q set out to find a partner that could provide a range of display components, including a new-look dump bin. While the products had already been designed by B&Q, Harrison was invited to tender for the project at a later date.
1 month ago
Leyard Europe LED supports new educational exhibition
A 4K CarbonLight VX LED screen from Leyard Europe forms the heart of a new inspirational and educational exhibition at the headquarters of the European Molecular Biology Lab (EMBL), Europe’s flagship laboratory for research into life sciences.
1 month ago
Crawley Town Centre BID invests in AI visitor behaviour platform
Crawley BID has invested in Place Informatics Visitor Behaviour Platform to help understand, manage, and improve town centre services and events.
1 month ago
Viking re-establishes presence in Ireland
Office supplies reseller Viking is re-establishing its presence in Ireland with the opening of a distribution centre in Dublin, the development of a local sales team, and the creation of a local customer service centre.

Login / Sign up