The Commission published new EU ecodesign rules to reduce the energy consumption of household tumble dryers and make it easier for them to be repaired.

The Commission published new EU ecodesign rules to reduce the energy consumption of household tumble dryers and make it easier for them to be repaired. The new rules replace the current ecodesign and will be accompanied by a new energy label that will apply to household tumble dryers placed on the market from 1 July 2025.

Taking into account the latest technological developments, only tumble dryers based on heat pump technology, will be allowed on the market. In addition, the energy label has been modernised and re-scaled from an A+++ to D range to an A to G range. The A class will only apply to the best-in-the-class products, creating an incentive for manufacturers to develop high-performing, energy-efficient appliances. Manufacturers will also have to respect sustainability criteria, which include the obligation to make a list of spare parts available to consumers and repairers, adding another incentive to repair household products instead of disposing of them.

The published measures are expected to lead, by 2040, to cumulative energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings of an estimated 15 TWh and 1.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent, respectively. This can be compared to the annual electricity use of some 2.6 million electric vehicles. The improved energy efficiency resulting from the new measures has the potential to save around €2.8 billion for consumers.

The new rules follows extensive consultation and scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

Manufacturers will have a transitional period of around 18 months to implement the new measures.