The EU Right-to-Repair directive: What does it mean for companies and consumers?

This article was first published by edie

It’s no secret that today's products are lower quality and more difficult to repair than in the past. For example, in 2013, 8.3% of large household appliances were replaced due to a defect within the first five years of service—up from 3.5% in 2004. Electrical and electronic equipment waste is also one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the EU, growing by 3 to 5% each year. The old idiom rings true: they just don’t make them like they used to.

The good news is that in April, the EU adopted legislation designed to tackle this issue.

In a major win for the circular economy, the European Council and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on the directive promoting the repair of broken or defective goods, commonly referred to as the Right-to-Repair (R2R) directive. This legislation is set to revolutionise consumer rights by making repair services more accessible, transparent, and appealing. The directive entered into force on the 30th of July.

What is the R2R directive?

According to Anna C W De Matos, Founder of the Circular Library Network and Chair of the Hringrásarsetur Íslands, an NGO that advocates for the right-to-repair in Iceland, ‘The R2R directive is a beacon of hope, thanks to the tireless advocacy by the R2R Europe Coalition team who have been working on this for years.’ At the heart of the directive lies one of the core principles of the circular economy: extending the lifespan of products, thereby mitigating the environmental impacts associated with premature disposal. The directive obliges manufacturers—both inside and outside of the EU—to provide repair services for goods sold on the European market, even after the legal guarantee period.

The new legislation also aims to tackle planned and premature obsolescence—a pervasive problem in today's consumer-driven society. Manufacturers will be required to provide clear and accessible information on the repairability and durability of their products, enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. With this in mind, the directive introduces several measures to make repair more attractive to consumers and prolong product lifespans. These include:

1. Consumer request for repair: Consumers will have the right to request that manufacturers repair technically repairable products under EU law, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners or mobile phones.

2. European repair information form: Repairers will provide consumers with a standardised form, offering clear details on repair conditions, pricing, and timelines.

3. European Online Platform for repair: A centralised European online platform will facilitate matchmaking between consumers and repairers, ensuring easy access to repair services across borders.

4. Extension of liability period: The period in which the seller is responsible for product defects or breaks will be extended by 12 months after repair, incentivising consumers to opt for repair over replacement.

While the European Parliament’s adoption of the directive is a significant step forward, it’ll still need to be adopted by national governments over the next two years. Affected companies, therefore, still have time to familiarise themselves with the new provisions and prepare for compliance.

What does this mean for businesses and workers?

‘Businesses, particularly manufacturers and retailers, will need to adjust their policies and practices,’ says De Matos. ‘To prepare, businesses should start by reviewing their supply chains and service networks to ensure they can meet the demand for spare parts and repairs. This might also be a good time for businesses to strengthen relationships with independent repairers and possibly explore partnerships or certifications to ensure service quality.’

Complying with the new directive means manufacturers will, in some cases, have to drastically rethink business as usual. For one, redesigning goods for easier disassembly, repair, and durability must become the new norm. Examples of this include modular design, standardising parts, and establishing diagnostic tools. At the end of the day, longer-lasting and easy-to-repair goods mean lower repair costs for producers.

It is also in the best interest of manufacturers and retailers to provide consumers with the information necessary to make small repairs at home—capable consumers have the potential to drastically cut businesses’ repair costs. To do so, producers can provide extensive repair manuals, troubleshooting guides, and tool libraries—accessible both in-person and online. Initiatives like De Matos’ Circular Library Network provide the infrastructure necessary for communities to share items, including tools for consumers to make simple at-home repairs.

That being said, preparation for the R2R directive is not only about compliance. As consumers increasingly prioritise repair and reuse over disposal, a burgeoning market for repair services and refurbished products is expected to emerge. ‘Repair is a labour-intensive sector so it’s logical to expect it will generate labour opportunities’, says Morgane Veillet Lavallée, Senior Researcher at Circle Economy, ‘I'm sure this is also an aspect that has motivated so many members of Parliament to endorse this directive—only three were opposed’.

Veillet Lavallée remains cautiously optimistic, however, stating ‘We still have to retain a cautious angle as estimating job creation can only be hypothetical and a regulation alone is insufficient to create an able labour force working on repair’. In other words, for the R2R directive to have a positive impact on employment, implementation of the directive must be met with supportive measures like tax breaks for repair companies and educational campaigns to inform consumers of their rights across EU Member States. With this in mind, Member States must then ensure workers have access to the necessary training and skills to meet the rising demand for repair.

Is the R2R directive enough?

‘Basically, for it to be effective, implementation across Member States needs to be carefully supported with additional policy measures supporting the repair sector overall, as is already the case for France and Austria which implemented tax breaks for consumers looking to repair devices’, Veillet Lavallée points out. The successful implementation of the directive will, therefore, require concerted efforts from all stakeholders across the EU. Governments, businesses and consumers alike must collaborate to ensure that the principles outlined in the directive are effectively translated into tangible actions and outcomes.

The R2R directive signals not only a paradigm shift towards a circular economy but also a fundamental shift in societal values—fostering a deeper appreciation for the intrinsic value of resources and the importance of responsible consumption. Today, over 52% of Europeans report that they are willing to buy a refurbished smartphone in the future, and almost 80% of consumers agree that manufacturers should be required to make devices easier to repair.

De Matos takes this point a step further, noting that ‘For businesses, it's a chance to enhance customer loyalty and potentially open up new revenue streams through repair services and the sale of spare parts. Consumers benefit from longer-lasting products and reduced repair costs…Economically, encouraging repairs can boost local job markets focused on repair services, and environmentally, it helps reduce waste and the demand for raw materials.’ By empowering consumers with the right to repair, Europe is paving the way for a more sustainable future, where resource efficiency and environmental protection go hand in hand with economic prosperity. To quote De Matos: ‘Basically, it’s a win-win-win, unless you’re in the business of making throwaway gadgets!’