EU Energy Label: A New Era for Mobile Devices Begins June 20, 2025

Big changes are coming to your next smartphone. Since eco-design and labelling are the crucial tools, starting June 20, 2025, every smartphone and tablet sold in the European Union will need to carry a new energy label. This is part of the EU’s broader push for more sustainable electronics, introduced through the Ecodesign Regulation (EU 2024/1781) and the Energy Labelling Framework, being the energy efficiency a strategic priority for the European Union with the targets of:

• Lower energy bills for consumers and companies.
• Lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
• Reduced need for energy infrastructure.
• Reduced energy and material imports (which is also an economic and security goal).
• Reduced environmental damages.

And of course, make it easier for people to choose devices that last longer, use less energy, and are easier to repair and recycle.

EU Energy Label Explained

The new label might look familiar. It’s modeled after the ones you’ve seen on fridges and washing machines. But this time, it’s for phones and tablets.
Here’s what EU energy label smartphone includes:

• Energy efficiency rating (A to G): Tells you how energy-efficient your device is.
• Battery durability: Your phone’s battery must hold 80% of its capacity after 800 charge cycles.
• Drop resistance score: Devices should survive at least 45 drops from a one-meter height.
• Repairability index: A new score that reflects how easy it is to fix your device and find spare parts.
• Water and dust protection (IP rating): Indicates how well your phone is sealed against the elements.
• Battery endurance per charge (Xh Ymin): Shows how long the battery lasts per full charge.
  You’ll also find a QR code that links to the EPREL database (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling), where you can explore detailed specs and sustainability info.

Why EU Energy Label for Phones Matters: The Regulation in Context

It’s part of the EU’s mission to become climate-neutral by 2050. These changes build on the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan and replace older rules under the 2009 Ecodesign Directive.
The new approach is meant to:

• Cut electronic waste: Fewer throwaway devices means less waste piling up.
• Extend product lifespans: Phones that last longer are better for your wallet—and the planet.
• Smartphone sustainability – reduce reliance on critical raw materials: Sourcing fewer rare materials eases pressure on the environment.
• Enhance consumer rights and transparency: You’ll have better information and more power to choose wisely.

Major Changes for Smartphones and Tablets

Not every device is affected, but most are. Smartphones, feature phones, cordless phones, and tablets without physical keyboards (between 7 and 17.4 inches) are included. Devices with foldable screens, special security features, or full desktop operating systems are not.
Some big changes to expect from EU energy labels on purchase:

• Sustainability and longer device life: Average lifespan could stretch from 3 to over 4 years.
• Software updates required for 5 years from market entry: Your device will stay current and secure for longer.
• Spare parts must be available for up to 7 years post-sales: Repairs won’t be a dead end anymore.
• Repair professionals must receive non-discriminatory access to firmware/tools: Independent repair shops get the tools they need to help.
• Resilience to impact, dust, and scratches is now mandatory: Devices will have to handle more wear and tear.

EU Energy Labelling Regulation: a Push Toward Circular Design

These new rules impact how phones are made. Manufacturers will need to:

• Publish the percentage of recycled materials used: You’ll know exactly how sustainable your device is and make sustainable smartphone choices.
• Provide details on disassembly, recycling steps, and tools: Clear instructions for taking devices apart make recycling easier.
• Disclose use of scarce or critical raw materials: Transparency on what’s inside your phone.
• Ensure full battery specifications and environmental impact information is available to consumers: You’ll be informed on everything from battery health to Mobile phone carbon footprint.

Does Energy Label Affect Smartphone Choice? Economic and Market Impact

The shift toward better-built phones comes with a cost, but also opportunity:

• Production costs are expected to rise, particularly for low-end devices: Budget phones may get pricier or phased out.
• Entry-level smartphones may become less available or more expensive: There could be fewer ultra-cheap models on the market.
• New space for certified second-hand and refurbished markets: A big win for buyers and the planet.
  • Market value for used smartphones could reach $94 billion by 2028: Second-hand phones are no longer second best.
• European Commission estimates from the New EU smartphone label:
  • 1.2 TWh/year of energy savings by 2030
    
  • 98 euros/year saved per household
    
  • Reduction of CO₂ emissions from 2.1 to 0.5 million tons in 20 years

Toward a Conscious Consumer Culture

These rules don’t just change devices—they change how we think about them and make Sustainable smartphone choices. The regulation promotes:

• More informed, eco-friendly purchasing choices: You’ll know which phones are truly built to last.
• Reducing pressure to replace devices frequently: With longer lifespans, there’s less need to upgrade all the time.
• A shift in product development from planned obsolescence to long-term reliability: Manufacturers are incentivized to build for the long haul.

Strategic Takeaway and Impact of EU Energy Labels on Brands

For tech companies, this is a wake-up call and an opportunity as well. To stay competitive, they’ll need to:

• Prepare to support 5+ years of software maintenance: Long-term updates will become the norm.
• Invest in modular, easily repairable design: Devices should be easy to open, fix, and upgrade.
• Develop transparent environmental reporting and digital labels: Brands will need to back up green claims with real data.
• Explore the recommerce market as a key revenue stream: Refurbished phones are becoming a profitable, growing segment.

EU Smartphone Labelling Regulation: in Short

The smartphone market is about to get a lot smarter and more sustainable. With the EU Energy Label now extending to mobile devices, transparency and long-term usability are becoming market expectations. Consumers will gain clearer insights into energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and environmental impact. In return, brands will face higher design standards and accountability.

The brands that adapt quickly and prioritize transparency, longevity, and circularity won’t just meet regulations—they’ll lead the future of tech. This shift marks the beginning of a more conscious era for electronics, where trust and traceability drive both loyalty and innovation. As sustainability becomes a baseline, success will belong to the companies that turn compliance into competitive advantage.

Coming soon: The Hidden Economy of Illicit Cigarettes