The new mobile phone Eco Rating scheme launched across Europe is set to roll out globally after the five operators behind the initiative expanded their initial agreement to encourage operators worldwide to participate.
The announcement paves the way for Eco Rating to become a global harmonised labelling system, giving consumers everywhere consistent, transparent insight on the environmental impact of new smartphones and making it easier to incorporate it in purchasing decisions. Eco Rating was initially launched in May 2021 by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica (operating under the O2 and Movistar brands), Telia Company and Vodafone to provide consistent, accurate information at retail on the environmental impact of producing, using, transporting and disposing of smartphones and feature phones.
The Eco Rating scheme was initially launched in 24 European countries, and has since been rolled out to South Africa (with Vodacom) and Brazil (by Telefónica under the Vivo brand). Eco Rating is now expected to launch in other countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. More than 150 mobile phone models are now assessed by the Eco Rating initiative, nearly doubling the range of devices rated at launch.
Fairphone, Realme and vivo are the latest mobile brand manufacturers to join the scheme, alongside Bullitt Group – Home of CAT and Motorola rugged phones, Doro, HMD Global - Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, MobiWire, Motorola / Lenovo, OnePlus, OPPO, Samsung Electronics, TCL / Alcatel, Xiaomi and ZTE. Eco Rating labelling is being implemented across 26 countries where the five launch operators are present. Customers can learn more about the initiative and see how the rating is calculated by visiting www.ecoratingdevices.com.
