New TCO Certified Criteria for IT Products Offer Computer Industry a Third Party Verification of Socially Responsible Production Conditions

New TCO Certified Criteria for IT Products Offer Computer Industry a Third Party Verification of Socially Responsible Production Conditions

STOCKHOLM, April 2, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

    TCO Certified, the international third party sustainability certification for IT
products, now requires independent verification of ethical working conditions among
electronics manufacturers applying for product certification. In light of recent reports
of deficient working conditions at electronics manufacturing plants, the launch of new
tightened social responsibility requirements offers the industry an effective and credible
way to improve and verify their progress towards more ethical production practices.

    Niclas Rydell, Manager for Certification and Development at TCO Development, believes
now could be a turning point for the industry as a whole: "From TCO Development's
perspective, we know that professional IT buyers are placing greater demand on their
vendors to ensure that products they buy are made in an ethically responsible way. The
recent reports of inadequate working conditions, salaries and worker health & safety at
Apple supplier Foxconn in China, are no doubt concerning. However we believe the situation
is indicative of an industry-wide problem- one where there is a greater need for
independent systems that can verify a company's actions and progress towards key labor
conventions established by the ILO. This is what TCO Certified is designed to do. We also
welcome the important steps now being taken by FLA and Apple to move their production in a
more socially responsible direction."

    Beginning immediately, all manufacturers applying for TCO Certified will be required
to meet the following enhanced social responsibility criteria (along with baseline TCO
Certified environmental, ergonomics and health / safety requirements):

   
    - The eight ILO core labour standards,
    - UN child convention article 32,
    - The manufacturer should work according to local health- and safety regulations
      and follow the labour laws, including minimum wages and social security in the country
      of manufacture.
    - The manufacturer should also allow freedom of organization in countries where
      no free trade unions are allowed.
    - Sharpened criteria for verification as well as on-site inspections.

    Here you can find the updated criteria for TCO Certified
http://www.tcodevelopment.com/pls/nvp/Document.Show?CIDA46&MID•9

    http://www.tcodevelopment.de/pls/nvp/Document.Show?CIDA46&MID“8

    About TCO Development and TCO Certified

    TCO Development is the company behind the TCO Certified third party sustainability
certification for IT products and has been an international driver in the field of
Sustainable IT for 20 years. Professional IT purchasers worldwide choose TCO Certified
products as part of their sustainable IT strategy. Products achieving TCO Certified meet a
broad series of criteria to ensure that manufacturing, use and recycling is carried out
with consideration for environmental, social and economic responsibility. Product
categories include notebooks, desktops, All-in-One PCs, tablets, projectors, computer
displays and phone headsets. TCO Development is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with
regional presence in North America and Asia. More information at
http://www.tcodevelopment.de,http://www.tcodevelopment.com,
http://www.tcodevelopment.se

    For more information, please contact:

    Europe - Anna Pramborg, Corporate Communications, +46-8-782-9346 or mobile
+46-70667-6404 Anna.pramborg@tcodevelopment.com

    Americas - Clare Hobby, +1-310-801-8769 Clare.hobby@tcodevelopment.com

Source: TCO Development