How many times have we had to change phones because the battery lasted a few hours, updates stopped, or a minor glitch cost almost as much as a new device? This strategy, called planned obsolescence, drives consumers to replace products that are still working, generating mountains of electronic waste and wasted resources. It is a mechanism that weighs on the wallet and the environment, but something is finally changing.
From June 20, 2025: new EU rules for more durable devices
The European Union is introducing a package of standards that affects all new smartphones and tablets sold in the EU, even if they are manufactured outside Europe. The goal is simple: to make us use the devices longer, reduce energy consumption and make repairs easier.
1. Clear energy label (classes A-G)
- Battery that must withstand at least 800 cycles before dropping to 80 percent capacity.
- Charging time transparently indicated.
- Drop resistance: tested up to 45 impacts without a case.
- IP protection from water and dust clearly visible.
- Repairability score from 0 to 10, with info on upgradeability and recyclability.
👉 Basically, you can compare models at a glance and choose the most robust and sustainable one.
2. Right to Repair (Ecodesign)
- Essential spare parts (battery, screen, ports, camera...) available for at least 7 years.
- Technical manuals and disassembly instructions accessible to independent repairers.
- Guaranteed software updates for longer periods.
- Free access to necessary software for technicians.
👉 Repair becomes convenient again: less waste and less expense for a new phone.
3. Cutting energy consumption
According to the EU Commission, we will save 14 TWh per year by 2030, about one-third of current mobile device consumption.
- Smartphones: from 12.2 to 9.2 kWh/year (-25 %)
- Tablets: from 8.8 to 6.8 kWh/year (-23 %)
- Estimated average lifetime increasing from 3 to 4.1 years
👉 Less energy used means lighter bills and less environmental impact.
4. Economic benefits
- Total projected savings: 19.8 billion by 2030.
- Each European household will be able to keep about €98 in its pocket thanks to fewer replacements and lower consumption.
Why it is important for all of us
These rules are not just bureaucratic technicalities. They mean:
- Less e-waste and less raw materials extracted.
- More transparency when we buy a new device.
- Greater freedom to choose between repair or replacement.
- Concrete savings at the end of the year.
The SINAB Consortium has always supported the circular economy and sees these regulations as a decisive step toward a future in which technology and sustainability go hand in hand.
How can we do our part?
- Read the label: choose models with higher energy classes and high repairability score.
- Use covers and protectors to avoid unnecessary falls.
- Repair when possible: now spare parts and manuals will be more accessible.
- Properly recycle old devices by delivering them to authorized collection points.
Planned obsolescence is no longer the only way: a system that favors more durable, repairable, and efficient devices will go into effect in June 2025. A change that protects the planet and our wallets.
Choose conscious, choose green. The future of our smartphones (and the planet) also depends on us.
