EU Regulation on Ecodesign for Smartphones, Implementing the Right to Repair, Now Official
Beginning June 20th, 2025, a range of devices including cordless phones, smartphones, feature phones, and tablets (with screens between 7 and 17.4 inches) will fall under new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations within the European Union. These rules, primarily set out in Regulations (EU) 2023/1670 and 2023/1669, align with the European Green Deal's objectives to boost sustainability, resource efficiency, and minimize environmental impact.
The Lowdown on Ecodesign Requirements
The new regulations apply to cordless landline phones, smartphones, feature phones, and slate tablets (tablets without built-in keyboards). Exemptions include tablets with detachable keyboards, flexible rollable displays, and high-security communication smartphones.
The durability and repairability of devices will be paramount. Minimum standards will be set for:
- Resistance to drops, scratches, and water ingress (IP rating).
- Batteries must support at least 800 charge cycles.
- Devices will be rated according to repairability class (A for most repairable, E for least repairable) alongside ratings for fall reliability, battery endurance, and ingress protection.
Manufacturers will also be required to provide operating system updates for at least five years from when the product is last on the market, extending device longevity and maintaining security and functionality. Spare parts will be made available within 5 to 10 working days to professional repairers for seven years after the device stops being sold, supporting independent repair shops.
Energy Labelling Requirements
For the first time, smartphones and tablets will carry an EU energy label, indicating energy efficiency. This label also includes:
- Battery endurance rating.
- Repairability class (A to E).
- Ingress Protection (IP) rating.
These labels aim to equip consumers with the necessary information to make informed and sustainable choices while comparing different models.
The Extra Mile
By 2027, smartphones and similar devices sold in the EU will be required to feature easily removable batteries, further enhancing repairability. The regulations also enforce registration in the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) for all covered devices, ensuring transparency on compliance and label data.
In essence, the EU's Ecodesign requirements strive to improve durability, energy efficiency, repairability, and software support for cordless phones, smartphones, feature phones, and tablets. This new regulatory package aims to reduce environmental impact and planned obsolescence, while empowering consumers to make more sustainable choices. [1][2][3][4][5]
Starting June 20th, 2025, smartphones and tablets will be subject to new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations within the European Union. Additionally, the durability and repairability of these gadgets—including smartphones—will be emphasized under the regulations, with manufacturers required to provide operating system updates for at least five years.
