The “right to repair” is a concept that advocates for the ability of individuals and repairers to have access to information, tools, and parts needed to repair and maintain the products they own. The movement promoting this aims to combat planned obsolescence, reduce electronic waste, empower consumers, and foster a more sustainable approach to consumer products.
Back in 2019, the European Union introduced regulations which include that spare parts should be available for at least 10 years. These regulations aimed to improve the repairability of certain products, such as washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and lighting products, by requiring manufacturers to make spare parts and repair information available to professional repairers and, in some cases, consumers. From June 2025, smartphones and tablets on the EU market will have to follow new ecodesign rules that ensure a certain degree of reliability and repairability. Consumers and repairers will finally have access to spare parts, for at least 7 years after removing a product from the market, and software updates will have to be made available for 5 years.
In 2019, the French government adopted a law regulating the mandatory display of clear information for consumers on the repairability of electrical and electronic equipment. The objective of the index is to encourage consumers to choose more repairable products, and manufacturers to improve the repairability of their products. It only covers a limited set of product types, but is a step in the right direction. It provides a score on aspects that include the documentation, the ease of disassembly and the availability & price of spare parts.
Just this month, California’s governor signed the Right to Repair Act into law. It includes provisions that manufacturers must make available appropriate tools, parts, software, and documentation for seven years after production for devices priced above $100. This is hugely encouraging and a massive step forward.
While repair has been reasonably common for e.g. white goods, consumer electronics manufacturers are now making steps towards providing genuine spare parts or offering some repair service. However, this is still limited in some cases, despite the positive marketing around it.
The business model of most organisation still to relies too much on the sale of new items. Planned obsolescence, an unrepairable design, a lack of (affordable) spare parts and part-pairing through software (from mobile phones to tractors) are some of the shady practices stopping repair.
So, what can you do?
The Restart Project launched the UK Repair and Reuse Declaration on Repair Day (21st October 2023), asking community groups, businesses and policymakers to sign up to it. (The Repair Finder has signed it, of course!) Please read the declaration and encourage your local decision makers (district/county council and your MP) to sign up to it and act accordingly. Talk about the Right to Repair and how it would benefit the UK.
You can also support the petition to UK parliament, which proposes to zero-rate VAT on spare parts & repair services. This would make repair more affordable and therefore easier.
Spread the word about the importance of the Right to Repair movement in the EU, USA or UK.
And the best way to support the right to repair, is to vote with your wallet: buy only repairable items. Look at manufacturer policies and see if you can find manuals and spares online. Check the repair score of smartphones, tablets or laptops on iFixit. And most importantly: get your stuff repaired by your local repairer or at your local Repair Café.
