Why is the EU's right to repair legislation important?
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Find out why MEPs want legislation to guarantee the right to repair and what concrete measures they propose.
Ahead of a planned European Commission proposal on the right to repair during the third quarter of 2022, Parliament adopted its priorities on 7 April. The right to repair is seen as a key step for the the EU’s plan to achieve circular economy by 2050 in the framework of the European Green Deal, the EU’s roadmap to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Four reasons for right to repair legislation
- According to a Eurobarometer survey, 77% of EU consumers would rather repair their goods than buy new ones, but ultimately have to replace or discard them because of the cost of repairs and lack of service provided.
- Another obstacle to a more sustainable consumption is obsolescence: some products are designed to fail after a certain time or amount of use. In some cases, the components of the devices are fixed in such a way that they cannot be taken out and replaced.
- Repairs of electronic devices would be good for the environment, leading to a reduction in resource use, fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less energy consumption.
- Electronics are the fastest growing source of waste in the EU. In 2017, more than 3.5 million tonnes were collected and only 40% recycled.
Check out our infographic for e-waste facts and figures
What should be included in right to repair legislation?
The European Parliament has been in favour of improving the consumers’ right to repair for over a decade and has made a number of concrete proposals to the Commission to make repairs systematic, cost-efficient and attractive.
Among the measures MEPs are set to demand in the upcoming legislative proposal are:
- Make repairs more attractive to consumers, like bonuses for repairing a faulty device or receiving a replacement device for the duration of the repair
- Oblige manufacturers to grant free access to repair and maintenance information and guarantee software updates for a minimum period
- Ensure devices are more durable, easier to repair and include removable and replaceable parts
- Offer better consumer information regarding the reparability of devices
- Extend guarantees
More on what Europe does to achieve a circular economy