Why repairability matters for the future of tech products

JRC explains | 30 April 2026 | Joint Research Centre

A smartphone that stops working after a component fails. A laptop whose battery cannot be replaced. These are common situations in a world where electronic devices are everywhere but are also increasingly difficult to repair.

From smartphones to laptops, from tablets to headphones, small electronic devices have become an essential part of our everyday life.

But as their production rate and use grow, so does their environmental footprint and waste generation. According to Eurostat, the amount of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the EU market almost doubled in a decade, from 7.6 million tonnes in 2012 to 14.4 million tonnes in 2022. Yet only around 4 million tonnes were recycled or prepared for reuse.

How can we make the devices we use every day last longer and generate less waste?

Number of electrical and electronic devices placed on the EU market

7.6 million tonnes
in 2012
14.4 million tonnes
in 2022
Only 4 million tonnes
recycled or prepared for reuse

Why repairability is becoming important

Extending the lifetime of products is one of the most effective ways to reduce their environmental impact. Repairability and component replaceability make this possible.

When products are easier to repair, whether by replacing a degraded battery, a broken screen or another component, they can be used for longer. This allows consumers to postpone purchasing new products and prevent waste generation.

It also brings economic benefits. Consumers can save money by repairing rather than replacing devices, while a stronger EU repair sector can create local jobs.

How design choices shape products’ repairability

The way products are designed plays a crucial role in determining how long they last and what happens to them at the end of their life. Some design choices allow for easy repair: the use of fasteners and connectors that can be removed with basic and accessible tools, rather than tightly glued components, or the fast access to a frequently failing component without the need to remove many others.

The ability to repair is determined not only by the way a product is designed, but also the services provided by the manufacturer: the availability of spare parts to replace faulty ones is essential for many repairs, while the provision of clear repair information allows for easy diagnosis of problems.

Portable batteries in electronic devices are a good example of how important design choices can be. In the early 2000s, mobile phone batteries were typically replaceable by end-users, meaning device lifetime could be prolonged by easy repair. This trend was quickly reversed in the following decade, with a shift towards non-replaceable batteries that made repairs more difficult and expensive.

What is the Joint Research Centre doing?

The European Union is working to make products more sustainable by setting requirements for how they are designed.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), adopted in 2024, is the key legislative instrument supporting this objective.

In parallel, the EU Batteries Regulation introduced requirements on the removability and replaceability of portable batteries, related both to the design and service-related parameters outlined above.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) plays a key role in shaping these policies, providing scientific support and technical input. The JRC

develops methodologies to assess product repairability
developed the first ever EU-wide repairability scoring system for smartphones and tablets, now included in the EU energy Label
provided technical input for the development of EU guidelines on battery removability and replaceability
supports ongoing work on potential repairability requirements for other products such as laptops, printers, consumer electronics and small household appliances

These tools help translate policy goals into practical, measurable requirements for products on the market. While design changes are not always explicitly linked to regulation, EU rules are already playing an important role in driving innovation towards more sustainable designs.

Manufacturers are increasingly considering how to make components easier to remove and replace. In some cases, features such as removable batteries are reappearing in new product designs.

Towards more repairable and sustainable products

Designing more repairable products still poses challenges: repairability is only one sustainability aspect, as devices also need to be durable, efficient and safe.

But many sustainability aspects often act in a synergic way, and design innovations make the management of these challenges and trade-offs possible.

The ESPR framework aims to make sustainable products the norm in the coming years, with repairability playing a key role in this effort. This could include setting minimum requirements for product repairability, as well as providing clearer information to consumers on how easy it is to repair the products they buy, helping them make more sustainable choices via repairability scores.

Together, these actions help shift the market towards more durable and resource-efficient products.