🌱 What is the impact of discarding products?
A study from the European Commission showed that “77% of EU citizens would prefer repairs to purchasing new products”. Notably, according to the EU, “[c]onsumers who choose to replace rather than repair [their products] lose around 12 billion euros per year”. Yet, high repair costs, design features that make products difficult to repair, as well as limited accessibility to repair services often discourage consumers from repairing their products. The disposal of repairable consumer goods has a considerable impact on the environment. It is estimated that each year 35 million tons of waste are produced in the EU through the disposal of repairable consumer goods. This disposal alone produces 261 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the EU each year.
🌱 How does the EU plan to incentivize repairs?
On 21 November 2023, the European Parliament “adopted its negotiating position on new measures to strengthen the right to repair and to reduce the environmental impact of mass consumption”. With the new measures, consumers in the EU are to be encouraged to move towards more sustainable consumption. The proposal aims to ease the repair of defective products, sets out measures to support the repair sector, and ultimately strives to reduce waste in the EU.
🌱 Will the legal warranty be modified?
Under the proposed measures, sellers must prioritize repair during the legal warranty period, so long as this “is cheaper or equal in […] costs to replacing a product”. An exception is made for products for which a “repair is not feasible or is inconvenient for the consumer”. There are plans to extend “the legal guarantee for one year after repairing a product”. It is also planned that consumers would have a right to request repairs after the end of the warranty for products such as bicycles, smart phones, vacuum cleaners, and washing machines. In case a repair is not possible, it is suggested that consumers may then be offered a refurbished product (instead of always a new product).
🌱 How will repairs be made accessible and attractive?
There are plans to offer financial incentives to consumers who opt for repair – possibly through vouchers or national repair funds. Producers may have “to make replacement equipment available throughout the repair period”. Consumers would then “receive replacement devices on loan” while their devices are being repaired. There are also plans to make sure more spare parts are “available for independent repairers”. The idea is that “independent repairers, refurbishers and end users will have access to all spare parts, repair information and tools at a reasonable cost”. Similarly, there are plans to create online platforms “to help consumers find local repair shops (including repair cafés) and sellers of refurbished products in their area”.
🌱 What happens next?
Representatives of the European Parliament must now negotiate the final text of the law with the European Council. This will hopefully be concluded in February, so that the law can enter into force prior to the next European Parliament elections in June 2024.
Read more about the right to repair here:
- https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/eu-right-to-repair-is-finally-here/