The EU Commission wants mobile phones and tablets to be clearly visible at the point of purchase in the future as to how easy they are to repair and how energy-efficient they are. As can be seen from a draft law by the Brussels authorities, it could be mandatory in the future to mark corresponding devices – similar to washing machines, televisions or dishwashers – with a label.
The business magazine "Business Insider" had previously reported on it.
Scale from "A" to "G" and green to red
A scale from green to red should show immediately how efficient the devices are. In addition, users can see the power consumption based on the letters "A" for particularly efficient devices and "G" for energy-intensive devices. Robustness and ease of repair would be given on a scale from "A" to "E". It should also be evident how many hours a battery lasts until it is charged, or after how many charging cycles its performance has noticeably decreased.
The EU Commission is now gathering feedback on the draft. However, it will probably take even longer before a corresponding label becomes a reality. If the draft is passed as proposed, a transition period of 18 months is envisaged.
Praised by the consumer association
The European consumer association Beuc praised the move: "The European Commission's proposals contain many advantages for consumers," says Beuc sustainability expert Isabel Lopez-Neira. These included, among other things, batteries with a longer service life, security updates for at least five years, easier dismantling and the availability of spare parts.
As early as March, the EU Commission made fundamental proposals for environmental requirements for numerous products. In addition to mobile phones and tablets, almost all products were covered, such as clothing, backpacks and furniture. However, the EU states and the European Parliament still have to explicitly agree to this project and negotiate a compromise.
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