Beginning January 2021, electronic devices including smartphones, tablets, TVs, and computers will now have a repairability score label. The label which will be compulsory for all devices sold in the European country is the result of a European Parliament vote for the Right to Repair.
According to iFixit, the vote requires the EU Commission to introduce a compulsory label that will “provide clear, visible and easy-to-understand information to consumers about the estimated lifetime and repairability of a product at the time of purchase.”.
France’s repairability index is expected to set an example for other European countries. The score on the label of an electronic, which will be rated out of 10, will take into consideration the ease of disassembly, price, and availability of spare parts, and access to repair information reports. This score will be similar to the one that iFixit has been awarding to devices for more than a decade.
The repairability score will not only force manufacturers to design products that can be easily repaired, but it will also increase competition as no manufacturer will want their product to have a low score, and it will also translate to an increase in the life span of the product.
Apparently, an EU survey carried out recently revealed that 77% of EU citizens would prefer to repair a device than replace it. With France at the forefront, other EU countries are expected to follow suit. The country also has plans to upgrade the repairability index to a durability index in 2024, so that consumers know that a product is not only easy to repair but also durable. Another goal is to extend the index to non-electronic products such as bikes and furniture.
There will also be a platform for consumers to provide feedback on the index. Citizens will be able to report false info which will lead to a sanction starting in 2022.
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