Equally significant is the strengthening of the right to repair, a principle often invoked but seldom truly guaranteed. The obligation for manufacturers to provide access to technical information and ensure the availability of spare parts heralds a new era for independent repairers, small artisanal businesses, and the circular economy as a whole.

It opens up a genuine opportunity to build a more decentralised ecosystem in which maintenance is no longer monopolised by manufacturers but becomes an integral part of a device’s lifecycle.

Lastly, though no less important, is the expected impact on energy savings and consumer costs. Estimates indicate savings in the order of 14 TWh per year — a non-negligible figure that translates into both tangible environmental benefits and substantial cost reductions for consumers. By 2030, the total estimated savings could reach approximately €20 billion. These figures underscore the potential of intelligent, forward-looking regulation to drive meaningful change.

The expected effects go far beyond a marginal improvement in energy performance: they herald a systemic transformation of the sector. If properly implemented and monitored, the environmental label could act as a Trojan horse for a new digital economy — one that is more frugal, more responsible, and ultimately more aligned with both market needs and planetary boundaries.

The adoption of an environmental label for smartphones and tablets represents a significant development in consumer protection law and in the regulation of the technology market. The European approach strikes a balance between environmental priorities and informational transparency, enhancing the role of the user as an active and conscious participant in the digital marketplace.

If effectively enforced, this measure could meaningfully contribute to the green transition, fostering both innovation and corporate responsibility.

Once again, Europe positions itself as a pioneer in consumer protection, with a legal choice that combines individual rights with environmental preservation. The consumer electronics sector has long been omnipresent in our daily lives — we live, work, and stay informed through mobile devices we often replace lightly. Too frequently, new smartphones are purchased not because the previous one has ceased to function, but because it can no longer be updated or its battery no longer holds a charge.

In the absence of widespread repair policies and robust after-sales support, consumers are left with few credible alternatives to replacement.

But this tendency does not arise in a vacuum — it is the result of market dynamics and corporate strategies that favour continuous turnover and fuel a cycle of accelerated obsolescence.

The new energy label sets out to counter this trend, steering purchasing choices toward rational and sustainable criteria.

The notion of considering a device functional until its actual end of life — rather than its first sign of decline — is revolutionary in its simplicity, but demands a cultural paradigm shift.

Providing consumers with clear, visible, and comparable tools may be the first step toward a more mature relationship with technology — less impulsive, more aware, and finally in tune with the planet’s needs.