EU officials aim to make the European Union (EU) “the first climate-neutral continent” by 2050, by transforming it into a “fair and prosperous society with a modern, competitive, climate-neutral and circular economy and a toxic-free environment”, says Regulation (EU) 2024/1781.
According to this regulation, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, any electronic product placed on the EU market starting from 2026 must be designed and assembled in such a way that it can be easily repaired, reused, or recycled, says the Environ Association, involved in the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Romania. Thus, to be used in the EU from 2026 onwards, any product must have a digital passport proving that it meets minimum ecodesign requirements. This way, the lifespan of electrical equipment would be, on average, 5 years longer, compared to those currently on the market, which were not designed to be sustainable throughout their entire life cycle and need to be replaced frequently, leading to a significant consumption of energy and resources.
According to Roxana Puia, marketing director of the Environ Association, the lack of relevant product information and accessible options also makes it difficult for citizens and economic operators to make sustainable choices. Moreover, she emphasizes that new regulations on the sustainability of products and the right to repair are essential as tons of e-waste is thrown away every year, with producer responsibility being the first step and consumer education and awareness the second to have a planet with less waste.
At the same time, the new regulations introduce specific information requirements, like repairability and durability classes, environmental footprint, and information on how to install, use, maintain and repair the product. They aim to improve the durability and reliability of products, having a significant impact on energy and resource efficiency. These rules also cover product labels and outline the help SMEs receive to be sustainable and comply with ecodesign requirements, such as investments in infrastructure, access to funding and tax benefits.
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