What ESPR Means for Electronic Product Design
By David Pike for Mouser Electronics
Published April 17, 2026
For much of the history of electronics, repair was simply part of ownership. Radios, televisions, and early consumer electronics were built with the expectation that they would be maintained over time. Service manuals were widely available, spare parts could be ordered, and local technicians routinely repaired equipment that might remain in use for decades. When something stopped working, the natural response was to find the faulty component and replace it.
The need for repairability was largely practical. Electronics were expensive, and repairing them was usually more economical than replacing them. Equipment stayed in service longer, and fewer products were discarded. Today, this would be recognized as a sustainable approach to product design.
Over time, the industry has changed. Advances in semiconductor integration, manufacturing scale, and global supply chains have made electronic products smaller, more capable, and far more affordable. In many cases, it has become easier to replace a device than to repair it.
At the same time, the concept of sustainability has taken a different direction. Now that electronic devices are more widespread and energy consumption has increased, the focus has shifted to efficiency. Engineers strive to reduce power consumption, increase battery life, and improve the performance of power supplies and electronic systems. These developments have delivered measurable benefits.
However, energy efficiency is only part of the story. The environmental impact of a product begins long before it is switched on. Raw materials must be sourced and moved through global manufacturing and supply networks before they ever become part of a finished device. Eventually, every product reaches the end of its life, raising questions about whether its components can be recovered or whether it will simply become electronic waste.
This perspective is reflected in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).[1] Although ESPR is a European Union (EU) regulation, its influence extends globally. Modern electronics are designed and manufactured through global supply chains, and products intended for international markets often need to satisfy multiple regulatory frameworks. As a result, the design principles encouraged by ESPR can shape engineering decisions worldwide.
None of these ideas is completely new. Engineers have always designed systems with reliability and service life in mind, while also paying close attention to the materials used in a product. What is changing is the emphasis placed on these principles and the way they are connected to environmental responsibility.
