Since June 20, 2025, Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, known as the “Ecodesign for Smartphones and Tablets”, has come into force, applying to all products in these categories placed on the European market. This marks a significant turning point for the consumer electronics sector.

This regulation introduces new technical requirements that compel manufacturers to incorporate durability and repairability criteria right from the design stage of new products.
It signals a profound shift in perspective: innovation is no longer measured solely by energy efficiency, but by considering the entire product lifecycle; robustness, repairability, reuse potential, spare parts availability, and more.

What changes with the new Ecodesign regulation?

Requirements on repairability and reliability

Products must now be designed to allow for easy disassembly, without complex proprietary tools. Manufacturers are required to provide professional repairers with all the necessary information to repair and maintain spare parts supplied by them, including disassembly diagrams, a list of required repair and testing tools, and detailed technical manuals.

In the case of serialized parts, manufacturers must also ensure that repairers have access to the software tools needed to fully restore functionality after repair, so that replacing a component does not result in any loss of product features.

Product durability and robustness

The regulation also sets clear requirements on product resilience and longevity:

• More durable batteries: they must retain at least 80% of their capacity after 800 full charge cycles, with Battery Management System (BMS) data made available.

• Software updates guaranteed for at least 5 years after the product was last placed on the market.

• More robust devices: better resistance to drops, water and dust (rated IP67).

Stronger requirements on spare parts availability

The regulation goes further by regulating practices around spare parts:

• Spare parts must be available for at least 7 years after the last placement of the product on the market.

• Manufacturers are required to guarantee access to a complete list of essential components: batteries, cameras, buttons, screens, ports, and more.

• Ban on “bundling” practices: spare parts must be sold individually, not forced into more expensive sets.

• Maximum delivery times are imposed on producers to ensure faster repairs and minimize device downtime.

A new environmental label

The regulation also introduces mandatory environmental labeling for smartphones and tablets. Inspired by energy labels already widely used in the home appliance sector, this new system aims to provide clearer transparency on the environmental performance of devices.

Each product will now display a comprehensive label indicating:

• The device’s energy consumption,

• Battery capacity and estimated lifespan,

• Repairability level, via a standardized score,

• Resistance to shocks, water, and scratches.

A strategic lever to strengthen the refurbishment ecosystem

Beyond mere regulatory compliance, the enforcement of the Ecodesign regulation represents a major advancement for the entire refurbishment sector and an opportunity to enhance customer experience and the perceived long-term value of products.

These new requirements are directly aligned with growing consumer expectations across Europe: access to products that are more durable and easier to repair. The devices placed on the market will be more reliable, easier to maintain, and come with more comprehensive technical documentation. All of this simplifies repairs, refurbishment, and resale, ultimately extending the product lifespan.

For end customers, this contributes to building trust in refurbished devices by reducing common frustrations related to repairs, weakening batteries, or discontinued software support.

For distributors, operators, and refurbishment players, it allows for smoother customer journeys with:

• Shorter turnaround times for repairs and refurbishment,

• More predictable intervention costs,

• Better control over the quality of service delivered to end users.

According to the 2024 Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report, this regulation could save consumers €20 billion by 2030, while cutting energy consumption linked to smartphones and tablets by a third.

It also provides a practical lever to offset soaring repair costs on newer models. Conversely, flagship models launched 4 or 5 years ago already benefit from established spare parts networks, making them more cost-effective and sustainable to maintain.

Recommerce already aligned with Ecodesign requirements

For more than 15 years, Recommerce has been committed to extending the lifespan of electronic devices. Our processes and commitments already incorporate, and often anticipate the main requirements of this regulation:

• 2-year warranty on our products, certified with our RecQ quality label,

• Rigorous quality controls covering over 50 checkpoints,

• Refurbished batteries with a minimum performance of 85%,

• Controlled sourcing of spare parts, with availability up to 10 years after market placement.

At Recommerce, we see this new regulation as a recognition of best practices already adopted in our sector, and a powerful incentive to push even further toward a more ambitious, lasting circular model.