Updated guide for interpreting smartphone energy labels: decoding energy efficiency ratings accurately
The European Union (EU) is taking a significant step towards promoting sustainability in the tech industry with the introduction of a new Eco-Design Regulation, set to take effect in June 2025. Initially, this regulation will apply specifically to smartphones and tablets, with the potential for expansion to other digital devices in the future.
Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the EU Parliament (SPD), has praised the new regulation, stating that it brings clarity, protects wallets, and contributes to more sustainability. The regulation aims to make products more durable, easier to repair, and thus more sustainable, with the motto being "Repair instead of replace."
Under the new regulation, manufacturers will be required to improve energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and use of sustainable materials in smartphones and tablets. They will also be mandated to provide access to spare parts, software updates, and technical documentation to enable longer device lifetimes and easier repairs.
A new energy label will be introduced for affected devices, providing information on energy efficiency, durability, robustness, and repairability. The label resembles familiar household appliance labels, with colored bars indicating energy efficiency and a letter displaying the efficiency grade. For smartphones, non-smartphone mobile phones, cordless phones, and slate tablets, the label will offer additional information, including battery life after a full charge, robustness, number of charge cycles to retain at least 80% of original capacity, ease and quality of repairs, device's resistance to dust, and moisture resistance.
The regulation may increase production costs for manufacturers, potentially leading to fewer "budget phones" in the market in the long run. Batteries in affected devices must last longer, ensuring at least 80% battery capacity for 800 charge cycles. Software updates must be offered for five years after the device's release, and manufacturers must offer important spare parts such as batteries and displays for seven years after they stop selling a device.
Looking ahead, tablets are also included in the scope of ecodesign requirements, as indicated by the European Commission’s recent initiative to correct Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 covering both smartphones and tablets. The EU is expanding its efforts to help consumers identify more sustainable and repairable electronics, with the expectation that other digital devices like tablets and potentially similar consumer electronics may be candidates for such energy and repairability labels by 2028.
Work is currently underway on a similar label for laptops, which could be introduced in 2028. Barbara Willms, a freelance author and PR consultant, has been vocal about the need for such regulations, citing the increasing mountains of junk from short-lived and repair-hostile devices. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) is also calling for an extension of the requirements to all electrical devices, emphasizing the importance of promoting sustainability across the tech industry.
In summary, as of June 2025, smartphones and tablets are the primary affected digital devices, with these categories being strong candidates for expanded energy and sustainability labelling frameworks by 2028. The new Eco-Design Regulation represents a significant step forward in promoting sustainability and repairability in the tech industry, and it is expected to have a positive impact on both the environment and consumers' wallets.
[1] European Commission. (2023). Regulation (EU) 2023/1426 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2023 on Eco-design requirements for energy-related products (Ecodesign Directive) and amending Regulations (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 640/2009, (EC) No 65/2011 and (EU) 2019/2019 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
[2] European Commission. (2023). Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1426 on Eco-design requirements for energy-related products (Ecodesign Directive) as regards certain requirements for tablets.
[3] European Commission. (2023). Press release: New EU label for more sustainable electronics to be introduced in 2025.
[4] European Commission. (2023). Work Plan for 2025-2030: Ecodesign and Energy Labelling.
[5] Bitkom. (2023). Study: Old smartphones and tablets in German households – a potential gold mine for recycling.
Science and technology are integral parts of the new Eco-Design Regulation that the European Union (EU) is implementing to promote sustainability in the tech industry. Under this regulation, smartphone manufacturers will be required to improve energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and use of sustainable materials, and provide access to spare parts, software updates, and technical documentation to enable longer device lifetimes and easier repairs. Additionally, gadgets like smartphones and tablets will soon be labeled with detailed information on their energy efficiency, sustainability, and repairability, helping consumers make more informed choices.
