Portable connected devices sold across the European Union will be subject to new energy labelling and ecodesign requirements. The Commission sees the major regulatory push as a way to promote longer-lasting, repairable, and more energy-efficient devices.
The measures, set to apply from 20 June 2025, aim to reduce energy use and environmental waste. They also are to help consumers make more informed choices when buying products. For the first time, smartphones and slate tablets will carry an EU energy label, similar to those already in use for household supplies.
Smartphones and tablets will now carry a repairability class, graded from A to E, alongside ratings for fall reliability, battery endurance, and ingress protection (IP rating). These additions are to empower consumers and reduce planned obsolescence, a long-standing concern in the digital device market.
These new rules are part of Regulations (EU) 2023/1670 and 2023/1669, and the European Green Deal. The latter sets out the EU’s broader goals on sustainability, resource efficiency, and decarbonisation.
The regulations will apply to a wide range of devices, including smartphones, feature phones, cordless landline phones, and slate tablets (those featuring 7–17.4 inch screens and no built-in keyboard). However, some products are exempt, including tablet computers (those with detachable keyboards), products with flexible main display (roll-up), and smartphones for high-security communication.
Technical standards
At the heart of the initiative is the ambition to extend product lifespan, reduce the frequency of device replacement, and improve environmental sustainability. Under the new ecodesign criteria, manufacturers will have to meet minimum standards for durability, including batteries that survive at least 800 charge cycles while maintaining 80 per cent of their original capacity.
As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission has adopted two regulations for smartphones and tablets; one on ecodesign, one on energy labelling. Together, they aim to allow EU consumers to make more informed and sustainable purchasing choices and encourage sustainable consumption. The European Commission
The legislation also compels manufacturers to ensure key spare parts are available for up to seven years after the last unit is sold. This includes components such as batteries, displays, charging ports, and even software updates. The latter have to be available for at least five years after the end of a product model’s placement on the market.
Environmental and economic impact
The European Commission estimates that these measures will result in energy savings of 2.2 terawatt-hours per year by 2030. This represents a 31 per cent reduction compared to a scenario without such measures. The said amount of energy equals roughly 0.09 per cent of the EU’s annual electricity consumption. Consumers are to benefit as well, with projections suggesting €20bn in cost savings by 2030, mainly due to extended device lifetimes and reduced need for new purchases.
The introduction of these rules follows growing concerns over the environmental footprint of electronics, especially mobile devices. The EC states that in 2020, around 687 million phones and tablets were in use across the EU27, an average of 1.5 devices per person. With device usage and digital demand only expected to rise, the EU’s measures aim to ensure that growth in connectivity does not come at the expense of the planet.
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Challenges for the industry
For suppliers, the new rules mean detailed compliance obligations. Those include the provision of printed and electronic energy labels, product information sheets, and access to the EPREL database for all covered devices. Dealers, both online and in-store, will be responsible for displaying the label and communicating product efficiency classes across all promotional materials. The European Commission has committed to reviewing the regulation by September 2027, allowing space to keep the rules abreast of the technology progress.
These regulations mark a concrete step forward in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, addressing the environmental footprint. The smartphone and tablet sector, a major contributor to electronic waste and energy consumption, is now aligned with the EU’s long-term sustainability agenda.
