DEEP DIVE: EU Ecodesign Requirements Place Sustainability at Forefront of Smartphones and Tablets

The European Union’s (EU) ecodesign requirements for smartphones and tablets has the potential to transform the industry in a more sustainable way, but whether the eventual impact will be as significant as the EU aims to achieve in its broader environmental goals remains to be seen, experts told 3E.

The Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2023/1670 on Ecodesign Requirements for Smartphones, Mobile Phones Other Than Smartphones, Cordless Phones, and Slate Tablets (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, or ESPR) is the underlying regulation supporting the EU’s energy labeling and ecodesign requirements for mobile phones, cordless phones, and tablets, effective 20 June 2025.