Right to Repair Makes its Way to Europe

The Right to Repair has been an ongoing issue for years as consumers fight for the right to repair their own devices and equipment. OEMs typically hold the power of repair, which often comes at high costs to consumers. The right to repair aims to advocate for repair-friendly policies, regulations, statutes, and standards at national, state, and local levels. The right to repair ultimately allows consumers to repair their own devices or take them to third-party repair shops for more cost-effective solutions. 

The movement has largely taken place in the U.S. but recently made its way to Europe when the European Commission proposed a template for rules promoting the repair of goods. 

According to a European Commission press release, “Over the last decades, replacement has often been prioritized over repair whenever products become defective and insufficient incentives have been given to consumers to repair their goods when the legal guarantee expires. The proposal will make it easier and more cost-effective for consumers to repair as opposed to replace goods.”

The press release also noted that the increased demand for repair would boost the repair sector and pressure OEMs to develop more sustainable business models. If approved, the proposal would add smartphones and tablets to the list of items required to be repairable under EU law and leave the option to add more items to the list. The proposal requires sellers to offer repair, except when replacement is less expensive for items under warranty. It establishes the right for consumers to “claim repair to producers for products that are technically repairable under EU law” for items out of the warranty period. 

Though the proposal is in line with the European Green Deal, as well as the Commission’s goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, it must be approved by the European Parliament and European Council before the rules can be adopted, but many member states are not quite on board. 

According to a survey conducted during the public comment period, the majority of responding environmental organizations and half of consumer organizations believed the promotion to be ineffective. A statement was released by the Right to Repair campaign in Europe saying the proposal shows the “EU’s lack of ambition to make repairability an affordable reality. Once again, the opportunity to make the Right to Repair universal is missed.” 

Repairing your own device may sound appealing, especially with the rising cost of technology and repairs, but it can be dangerous to attempt without professional help and can potentially lead to house fires. 

As an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of industry experience, HOBI offers repair and refurbishment services, and remarketing opportunities. 

For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.