Ecodesign Regulation: EU softens directive for display repairs

Buy yes, replace no: The EU has proposed a correction to the Ecodesign Regulation, which prevents users from replacing a defective smartphone screen with simple tools. However, this was envisaged in the original version from 2023.

With the new Ecodesign Regulation, the EU is obliging manufacturers of smartphones, tablets and other products to make them more sustainable and repairable. Among other things, smartphones launched on the market from June 20, 2025, must receive software updates for five years from the end of sale and have an energy label that not only provides information about the service life, but also about reparability and other factors.

Few repairs possible by users

Among other things, the regulation stipulates that manufacturers must provide professional repair workshops with a total of 15 types of spare parts. Consumers and repair initiatives such as repair cafés only have access to five parts. However, relevant components such as camera elements and audio connections are missing from the list. In addition, manufacturers that meet certain durability thresholds for rechargeable batteries do not have to provide consumers with batteries.

Originally, screens were also supposed to be among the components that could be replaced by the user. However, the EU removed this option a few weeks before it came into force through a “Corrective Act”.

EU softens repair requirements slightly

The amendment, which now only needs to be adopted by the Commission, stipulates that screens should continue to be sold to end users. However, it is not necessary for manufacturers to develop their devices in such a way that screens can be replaced by users with simple tools. Consumers will still have to visit a professional repair shop that has the appropriate tools to replace the screen.

As a result of this correction, there will probably still be few smartphones that can be extensively repaired by the user. Manufacturers should be pleased about this last-minute adjustment to the requirement, as it means less development work for them to make smartphones easier to repair.

Especially for devices that have a high level of protection against the ingress of water and dust, the possibility of simpler screen replacement would potentially be a challenge. This is because such devices are usually fitted with special seals.

Despite the subsequent softening, the new ecodesign can be considered a development in the right direction for consumers and the environment. However, it remains to be seen how manufacturers will implement it.

Right-to-repair campaigners, however, see further room for improvement. This is because manufacturers can still permanently link individual components to a specific device on the software side –  a practice that is particularly common with Apple devices. In addition, there are no specifications for spare part prices, meaning that manufacturers sometimes charge horrendous prices for a screen or other components.

(afl)