Have you ever had a product break just after the warranty expired, making replacement seem like the only option? The EU is taking steps to change this.
One of the most significant recent developments related to EU Regulations driving the Circular Economy is the adoption of the EU Right to Repair Directive (Directive EU 2024/1799). The directive introduces new rules designed to make product repair easier, more accessible, and more affordable for consumers. The objective is to encourage repair over replacement, tackling planned obsolescence.
This measure is part of the broader European Green Deal and entered into force on 30 July 2024.
Under the new framework, manufacturers will be required to offer repair services for certain categories of products that are technically repairable (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, electronic displays, smartphones), even after the legal guarantee period has expired. Annex II to the Directive provides a list of products to which this obligation applies.
Manufacturers are required to make available information on their repair services to consumers in an easily accessible manner. Consumers will be able to find repairers more easily through a new European Online Repair Platform, that is foreseen to become operational in 2027. It will allow consumers to compare repair options more easily by providing clear information on price, repair conditions, and expected duration.
Another important provision is that when a product is repaired under warranty, the legal guarantee can be extended by one year, encouraging repair instead of replacement.
Member States will have to transpose the Directive into national rules by July 2026 and take at least one measure promoting repair on their territory.
The Right to Repair is expected to significantly reduce electronic waste and emissions, while also helping consumers save money and supporting the development of repair services across Europe. It also creates new opportunities for circular business models. By strengthening repair as a viable alternative to replacement, the Directive reinforces the importance of extending product lifetimes in practice.
The rEUman project, in which CBA is actively involved through META Circularity, supports the objectives of the EU Right to Repair Directive by promoting remanufacturing as a key strategy to extend product lifetimes and enhance circular value retention across industrial sectors.
