Consumers want to buy more durable and repairable products since this is better, both for the environment and their pockets. The EU’s Right to Repair Directive and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation will help consumers repair their goods more easily and use their products longer. Thanks to the new rules that came into force in 2024, consumers have greater power to repair and maintain their own products, promoting sustainability, reducing waste and saving money. 

Why is it important?

Currently, 64% of European consumers try to repair their products but face various barriers, like high prices, unavailability of spare parts and convenient repair services. Consumers want longer-lasting products and feel that their products tend to break much earlier than they should.

The Right to Repair rules allow consumers to save money by fixing their own products instead of replacing them. It promotes a culture of sustainability and  gives consumers the autonomy to maintain their products, thereby challenging the throwaway culture perpetuated by premature obsolescence.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation will make products more repairable and durable by design. It will restrict unsustainable practices, such as destroying unsold textile and footwear items. 

For consumers, the new directive means:

1. Increased Product Durability and Sustainability: The new Ecodesign rules will ensure that products are designed to be durable. Consumers can expect products that last longer and have a reduced environmental impact.
2. Improved access to repair: The Right to Repair initiative will make it easier and more appealing for consumers to repair their products instead of replacing them. This includes better access to spare parts, repair manuals, and information about repairability, leading to potentially lower costs and less waste. Most importantly, legislators agreed to extend by one year the guarantee period for consumers who choose to repair their product that breaks under the legal guarantee
3. Better information: Consumers will benefit from more transparent information. Labels and digital product passports will provide details on durability, repair options, and environmental footprint, helping consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
4. Reduced premature obsolescence: The measures aim at ensuring that products do not become prematurely obsolete. This will help consumers save money in the long run as they won’t need to replace products as frequently, promoting sustainable consumption.

What BEUC did

During the legislative processes, BEUC and its members were actively involved to ensure that consumers’ interests were heard. For many years, the BEUC network has pushed for the right to repair and has asked for more durable products. 
BEUC members also collected over 16,000 consumer testimonies of failing products across seven EU countries, as part of the PROMPT project on premature obsolescence. This demonstrated the importance of this issue at the European level and reinforced the need for strong legislation to protect consumer interests and promote sustainability. PROMPT’s main takeaways can be found here.