There’s an upcoming vote at the European level that can have global implications for the repairability and durability of our products.
Given how popular these measures are, and how they can help countries meet carbon targets, no one is talking about this enough.
Our products are getting harder and harder to fix and manufacturers increasingly curtail our right to repair the stuff we own.
In December and January, the EU member states may throw out 2+ years’ work on creating better product standards for longer-lasting products, specifically appliances and electronics. These products have really high environmental impacts in manufacture, so making them last longer is better for personal finances and the planet.
This represents a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand our right to repair, and do so in a way designed to save the planet. However corporate lobbying or bureaucratic manoeuvring may succeed in watering down the measures. And we need member states to support them.
Key dates and the value of a precedent
EU members will vote at the Council of the European Union on measures affecting the repairability of various domestic appliances:
- 10 Dec (fridges)
- 8 Jan (dishwashers)
- 10 Jan (washing machines)
These measures could set a crucial precedent which could in the future be extended to electronic devices, such as laptops or smartphones. And chances are that Europe’s move could contribute to the adoption of similar regulation elsewhere in the world.
The main countries that have shown opposition to these measures during the last year are Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. All have responded to citizen pressure, from petitions approaching 200,000 signatures total (links below), and there is a real chance continued pressure will impact the outcome of this vote. (This is also a special opportunity for the United Kingdom, as it will likely be the last chance it has to contribute to ecodesign regulation before leaving the EU.)
Push for the original measures – not the watered down version
We need to pressure member states to push for the original drafts of these measures, and NOT ACCEPT significant changes undermining their positive impacts for people and planet.
European Environmental Bureau summarises these changes:
Provisions for a better design that facilitates repair through the non-destructive disassembly of key components have been replaced with provisions targeting recycling through the ease of dismantling at end of life only. This will make it easier to destroy and recycle a machine, not fix it.
The provisions granting access to repair and maintenance information to independent repairers have now been restricted to authorised repairers only. This will restrict the access of repair cafés or independent repair shops to the information, limiting the scope and availability of repair services.
Taking action
Members of the Open Repair Alliance are mobilising in their countries, and potentially in Brussels closer to the votes.
If you are an individual in a blocking country, please sign the petition [UK, DE, IT]
Please watch this space for the launch of a wider, long-lasting campaign on the Right to Repair in Europe. Sign up for updates
Update
French translation by Repair Together
German translation by Anstiftung
Background links
Coolproducts: The Ecodesign toolbox for repair
EEB: EU to deny citizens longer-lasting and repairable popular consumer products
[Photo by Janaya Dasiuk on Unsplash]
Benjamin Bach
Thanks so so so much for this! The planet needs this – consumers, too.
Can you state explicitly which countries are blocking?
Alan Liefting
The repair sector has been in decline for decades. On the other hand environmental problems are increasing. It is high time that the repair industry was given a boost to help us to become more sustainable.
We need the Right to Repair!
EU votes to make refrigerators more repairable | iFixit
[…] buy new ones, and say high costs and low availability of repair services are predominant barriers. Petitions in Germany, Italy and the UK asking for easily repairable and longer-lasting products are […]
Bob Cann
Oh yes please!!! This is something I have grumbled about since buying my first car back in 1968. Since moving into this house in 1991, we’ve got through about six electric showers – no one knows how to repair them or wants to, all they can do is replace the whole thing. And you look at all the bits inside an electric shower which most people discard – all the materials, all the energy used in forming those materials into parts. And please can we have things held together by screw heads that you can see, not these blasted clips! Ok, rant over – for now.
S. Taylor
Old microwave lasted 25 years – been through 3 in eight. Rust failure not tech. failure.
Old washing machine 30 years old – could be repaired. New 3-5 years max.
Old kettle 24 years – still got it.
It is possible for things to last a very long time.
Even expecting a 5 year life, as opposed to 25 years, is still a waste. We have forgotten how long things could last.