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

STOCKHOLM, April 2, 2012 /CNW/ - 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?CID=4146&MID=959
http://www.tcodevelopment.de/pls/nvp/Document.Show?CID=4146&MID=938

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 further information:

Europe - Anna Pramborg, Corporate Communications, [phone] or mobile [phone]
[e-mail]

Americas - Clare Hobby, [phone] [e-mail]