EU 'repairability index' to make phones last longer
Mobile phone - Photo © Tanusha - Fotolia
(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission set out proposals Friday for new rules to help consumers make informed and sustainable choices when purchasing mobile and cordless phones, and tablets.
Under the existing EU Energy Labelling Regulation, the new proposal came on the same day as the approval of measures to make these devices more energy efficient, durable and easier to repair by the European Parliament and Council, under the EU Ecodesign Regulation.
Under the Energy Labelling Regulation proposed, smartphones and tablets put on the EU market will have to display information on their energy efficiency, their reparability score, battery longevity, protection from dust and water, and resistance to accidental drops. This is the first time that a product placed on the EU market will be required to display a reparability index.
For their part, the new Ecodesign rules for mobile and cordless phones and tablets set our requirements to ensure resistance to accidental drops or scratches, protection from dust and water, and use of sufficiently durable batteries. They include, among others, rules on disassembly and repair, including obligations for producers to make critical spare parts available to repairers within 5-10 working days, and until 7 years after the product model is no longer sold on the EU market.
The Commission says the measures will help 'to make the EU's economy more circular, save energy, cut our carbon footprint, support circular business models and deliver the benefits of the European Green Deal for consumers'. The new rules will also help to optimise the use of critical raw materials and facilitate their recycling.
Commission Regulation laying down ecodesign requirements for smartphones, mobile phones other than smartphones, cordless phones and slate tablets
Commission Delegated Regulation on the energy labelling of smartphones and slate tablets