The European Commission is proposing new rules to make mobile phones and tablets more durable and energy efficient

Last weekend, the European Commission proposed new rules to help consumers make informed and sustainable choices when purchasing mobile phones and cordless phones, as well as tablets.

The proposal comes under existing EU regulation on energy labeling. This new proposal comes as the European Parliament and Council approved measures to make these devices more energy efficient, durable and easy to repair, under EU ecodesign regulation.

According to the European Commission, these measures help make the EU economy more circular, save energy, reduce our carbon footprint, support circular business models, and provide consumers with the benefits of the European Green Deal.

Mobile phones and tablets produced according to these rules will save approximately 14 TWh of primary energy per year by 2030. This figure represents a third of the current primary energy consumption of these products. The new rules will also help improve the use of basic raw materials and facilitate their recycling.

Under the proposed Energy Label Regulation, smartphones and tablets placed on the EU market would have to display information on energy efficiency, battery life, protection from dust and water, and resistance to accidental drops. It is also the first time that a product on the EU market has been asked to display a repairability score. “This fact will help EU consumers make more informed and sustainable purchasing choices and encourage sustainable consumption,” the European Commission says in a statement.

New products will use the existing EU AG-wide energy labels, and the European Energy Label Product Registry (EPREL) database will provide additional product information.

In addition, the recently adopted Environmental Design Regulation establishes minimum requirements for mobile phones, cordless phones and tablets placed on the EU market, including:

– Resistance to accidental drops or scratches, protection from dust and water and the use of durable enough batteries. Batteries must survive at least 800 charge-discharge cycles, maintaining at least 80% of their initial capacity.

– Rules for disassembly and repair, including the obligation of manufacturers to provide basic spare parts to repairmen within 5-10 working days and up to 7 years after the end of sales of the product model in the EU market.

Availability of operating system updates for longer periods: for at least 5 years after the product has been put on the market.

– Non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware required for replacement.

These energy classification rules will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the European Council for a two-month review period, after which they will be formally adopted if there are no objections to the text from the participating lawmakers.

After entering into force, the proposals provide for a 21-month transition period before the requirements become effective.