Eco-friendly regulation on the way for phones and tablets

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) is working on a regulation aimed at establishing eco-design requirements for phones and tablets used in the sector. Information regarding this regulation was compiled from the BTK's 2024 Work Plan.

In parallel with the eco-design regulation for smartphones, mobile and wireless phones, and tablets published by the EU in June 2023, the BTK will prepare a regulation in this field. The work is targeted to be completed by October.

Within the scope of the regulation, in addition to determining the eco-design requirements necessary for placing these devices on the market, it is planned to establish procedures and principles for market surveillance and inspection to monitor and audit whether products are manufactured and offered for service in accordance with these requirements.

Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, President of the Information Security Association, emphasized the importance of the eco-design regulation published by the EU last year, stating that eco-design means reducing environmental impacts throughout the product life cycle and calculating those impacts. Atalay expressed that the regulation to be implemented by the BTK has gained even more importance due to the rapid development of technology and the decreasing age of usage.

Stressing the necessity of designing phones and tablets in a way that does not harm the environment or human health and keeps electromagnetic radiation levels at a minimum, Atalay drew attention to the importance of using environmentally friendly materials in the production of wireless telecommunication devices in terms of sustainability, human health, and environmental sensitivity. He also emphasized that it is important for them to be designed from suitable materials so that devices that have completed their service life can be recycled.