Public consultation launched on updating ecodesign and labelling rules for electronic displays

The Commission has today launched a 12-week public consultation on the ongoing review of current requirements for ecodesign and energy labelling rules for electronic displays. In broad terms the review is aimed at making displays more energy efficient in line with technological developments since the previous detailed analysis in this sector in 2018. It will also seek to boost the circular economy, for example by more systematically tackling issues such as durability, reparability and recyclability in the sector. Today’s move follows separate calls for evidence last year for the respective ecodesign regulation and the energy labelling regulation on electronic displays. However, the issues covered are close enough that a single public consultation is considered sufficient, and this will now run until 5 February 2025. The aim is to have sufficient input from appliance manufacturers, consumer or environmental organisations, retail or repair businesses, national authorities and private individuals so that the Commission can table draft regulations in early 2026, with a view to ultimately being adopted later that year. 

Around 70 million electronic displays - mainly TVs, computer monitors and signage displays – are estimated to be sold each year in the EU, generating an annual revenue of around €30 billion. The overall stock is anticipated to be around 600 million units in 2030. Household electronic devices are estimated to consume around 18% of all residential electricity, and electronic displays are the largest consumers among them with a share of around 60%. Despite an increasing stock and size of displays and the addition of functionalities, the last impact assessment anticipated that total electricity consumption of these products under current rules will decrease from 84 TWh per year in 2015 to 62 TWh per year in 2030.

Background

First introduced for a number of household appliances in 1994, the EU energy label has been a key driver for helping consumers choose more energy efficient products. At the same time, it encourages manufacturers to innovate and use more efficient technologies. According to recent Eurobarometer surveys, the energy label is well-known by citizens - it is recognised by 93% of consumers and 75% use it to get informed when buying labelled products.  Alongside this, ecodesign legislation is a powerful tool in driving the industry towards greater energy efficiency and sustainability, and thereby instrumental in fostering energy-saving innovations.

Related links

• Public consultation on the review of the ecodesign and energy labelling requirements for electronic displays
• Regulation on energy labelling for electronic displays (EU/2019/2013) 
• Regulation on ecodesign for electronic displays  (EU/2019/2021)
• Energy labelling and ecodesign for Electronic Displays