The future of sustainable consumer products

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, the longevity of consumer electronics has become a crucial topic. The right to repair and replace parts, particularly batteries, is central to ensuring that products last longer, reduce electronic waste, and remain valuable for multiple users throughout their lifecycle.

The European Union has taken significant steps to enforce policies that promote sustainability and empower consumers. With new regulations coming into effect over the next few years, brands and manufacturers must rethink product design, customer engagement, and long-term business strategy.

The battery problem: an example in AirPods

One of the most pressing issues in consumer electronics today is the lack of replaceable batteries. AirPods as an example—when their batteries die, so do the earbuds. Currently, there is no mainstream way for consumers to replace them, resulting in their premature disposal.

However, upcoming EU regulations are set to change this.

“Starting in 2027, consumers will be able to remove and replace the portable batteries in their electronic products at any time of the life cycle. This will extend the life of these products before their final disposal, will encourage re-use and will contribute to the reduction of post-consumer waste.”

- European Commission 17 August 2023 Directorate -General for Environment

So, what does this mean for brands?

• How can we design products, particularly compact ones like earbuds, for easy at-home battery replacement?
• How do we ensure durability so that products withstand the extra years of use enabled by replaceable batteries?
• How can we maintain visual appeal and relevance over a longer product lifespan?

The industry may not yet have all the answers, but a thoughtful approach to sustainable design will be essential.

The right to repair and replace: What the EU legislation means

Phase 1: Strengthening repair rights (from July 31, 2026)

The first phase of the EU’s right to repair initiative mandates that manufacturers must:

Offer repairs at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe even after the legal guarantee period ends.

Provide access to spare parts, tools, and repair information.

Incentivise repairs through vouchers and funds.

Support online platforms that help consumers find local repair services and refurbished goods.

Phase 2: The battery passport (from February 1, 2027)

The next phase of the initiative will require all EV and industrial batteries over 2 kWh sold in the EU to have a battery passport, accessible via a QR code. This will include:

A unique battery identifier.

Key battery characteristics such as type and model.

Performance and durability statistics updated throughout the battery’s lifecycle.

Phase 3: Consumer-replaceable batteries (from 2027)

By 2027, all consumer electronics sold in the EU must allow battery replacement with minimal tools and at-home ease. This regulation aims to significantly reduce electronic waste, but the impact goes further. Extended product lifespans mean more resale opportunities, shifting the traditional ownership model changing how consumers connect with their devices.

Resulting challenges for consumer electronics

The evolving landscape presents challenges for designers and manufacturers. It raises several questions for both the design community and brands themselves, with wider-reaching implications for the product and customer journey.

Facilitating repair and battery replacement

How will your products effectively facilitate and communicate ease of repair and battery replacement? And how will you make this simple, intuitive and inclusive?

Wider product lifecycle considerations

Beyond these new functional requirements, what are the implications for the product itself? What are the other considerations for your products' now longer life in the market?

How will it be made to last, and what does that mean for your business model?

How can it be designed to stay appealing beyond a ‘traditional’ 18- to 24-month lifespan?

How easily can it be repurposed and reinvigorated for a new user? Given the longer life the product will have, it is more likely to have many owners.

Let’s take two scenarios: someone who keeps a product for the whole new extended lifecycle and someone who is buying a product second-hand and partway through its longer lifecycle.

First-hand

Someone buys the product when the technology is new, and the product cost is at its most expensive. They may keep the product all of its life, updating, replacing and repairing it as they go, becoming custodians of that ‘piece of CO₂ and material’, or it may outlast the user themselves.

Second-hand

As the first owner upgrades or no longer requires the product, the product is resold to a new user who may be in a new market or different demographic.

Both scenarios, in addition to ease of repair and replaceability, will require brands and manufacturers to provide:

• New parts when components break
• New batteries when battery health deteriorates
• Upgrades to stay relevant or to be able to interface with new tech
• New outer housings:
  • required due to wear-and-tear, especially for soft parts;
  • to stay relevant to changing CMF trends;
  • to facilitate a new use case.

As I see it, the key consumer electronics challenges and opportunities are:

• EU Battery Compliance – right to replace
• Right to Repair and Maintain – end user disassembly and simplicity of repair
• Customisation – personalisation driving attachment
• Sustainability – material selection, supply chain, LCA, CO₂ footprint

Towards a culture of repair and reuse

The right to repair movement is gaining momentum, mirroring the shift in fashion where second-hand clothing has become favourable and, in some cases, a status symbol. The rise of refurbished electronics marketplaces, such as Amazon Renewed, Back Market, and CEX, signals a cultural change that will only accelerate as repairability becomes the norm rather than the exception.

For brands, this is an opportunity to build deeper consumer loyalty by enabling a longer product journey—one where multiple users interact with and appreciate a well-maintained, upgradable device. Those who embrace this shift early will lead the way in sustainable, responsible product design.

The future of consumer electronics is clear: it’s repairable, it’s replaceable, and it’s built to last.

Please get in touch if you’d like to chat with me about right to repair and replace in consumer product design.