New European Parliament Resolution on Right to Repair

On April 7, 2022, the European Parliament, the law-making body of the European Union, overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on the “right to repair.” The right to repair is an important part of the Circular Economy Action Plan under the European Green Deal. The Plan aims for more efficient use of resources through extensive leasing, repairing, and recycling.

What the Resolution Asks For

The right to repair concerns the repair aspect of the Plan. In its resolution, the European Parliament calls on the European Commission to draft a proposed law later in 2022, and wants that law to address a product’s complete life cycle, including product design, production, standardization, and labeling. According to the Parliament, the proposed law should cover:

• Free access to product repair and maintenance information for consumers and repairers.
• Reversible software updates that do not diminish the performance of digital devices. Updates must be available for a minimum period of time, and consumers must be informed of their availability at the time of purchase.
• Incentives that motivate consumers to choose repair over replacement.
• Rules for required consumer information at the point of sale, such as “repair scores,” estimated product lifespan, spare parts, repair services, and the availability of software updates.
• Possible smart labeling, such as QR codes or a digital passport.
• Potential joint manufacturer-seller liability for non-conforming products.

What It Means for Manufacturers

Because the European Commission has yet to draft a proposed law, it is hard for manufacturers to prepare for these potential requirements without knowing the specific provisions. Organizations should stay tuned for upcoming developments. In the meantime, see how RumzerLCA models a product's full life cycle impact, or see Rumzer's life cycle assessment services.