New EU energy label shows repairability of smartphones and tablets

How well can a particular smartphone or tablet be repaired? In the future, a new EU energy label will indicate this on a scale from A to E, but not until 2025.

New EU energy label from 2025

On a scale from A to E, you can tell from the year 2025 on smartphones and tablets how well the devices can be repaired themselves. This is made possible by a new EU energy label, which the European Commission has now agreed on together with the EU member states.

Starting in 2025, the new label will be mandatory on all smartphones and tablets, as the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) announces.

A tool symbol can be seen on the scale, which in conjunction with the code letter in the scale provides information on reparability. Among other things, the number of steps to disassemble, the availability of spare parts and the duration of availability of software updates are included.

Already on Nov. 18, 2022, EU member states and the Commission had adopted new ecodesign requirements for smartphones, tablets, cell phones and cordless phones. This was followed on December 12 by a new EU directive to ensure smartphone and notebook batteries are replaced.

Repair instead of throwing away

“Smartphones and tablets have become an indispensable part of life for most consumers. This makes it all the more important to provide reliable help with their purchasing decisions, which we can now provide for the future. It also gives manufacturers of smartphones and tablets an incentive to design their products innovatively and sustainably. This helps to use resources more efficiently worldwide,” shares Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.

Also Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke sees an advantage in the new EU energy label: “The reparability index is a real compass for the shopping basket. Consumers will have it easier in the future to choose such smartphones and tablets that are really repairable and thus more durable.”

This saves resources and protects the environment. At the same time, the label is good for the wallet, as customers can immediately see whether, how easily and how long they can repair their smartphone and use it accordingly. “In the future, repairing instead of throwing away should become the new normal,” Lemke continues.