In the wake of curbing the pollution caused by electronic devices like Mobile phones and Laptops, The European Lawmakers has come up with a new idea of “right to repair”. The proposed policy is aimed to restrict the destruction of goods that are unsold and outdated. It will ban the practice of dumping the electronic equipment and hence reduce the “premature obsolescence”. The term Premature Obsolescence refers to electronic products that stop working after the guarantee period or break down too quickly. The European commission intended to reduce the negative impact of ‘Premature Obsolescence” on the environment that caused in form of e-waste and increased exploitation of natural resources.
With the aim to move toward carbon neutrality by 2050, this initiative will help achieve the target by reducing the use of natural resources and minimize the adverse impact of transactions of such products on the environment.
The new proposal is supposed to enhance the lifespan of electronic devices by improving the different aspects of the product. It will revise the overall design and production of the product and encourage the manufacturer to recycling and reuse. Furthermore, with this new policy, the EU wants to provide consumers with reliable and accurate information about the durability and reparability of the product. It will encourage and help consumers to buy environmentally friendly products.
In a statement, EVP Frans Timmermans said “Many products break down too easily, cannot be reused, repaired or recycled or are made for single use only. There is a huge potential to be exploited both for businesses and consumers.”
This proposal also includes new regulatory frameworks to reduce the packaging and make it more eco-friendly. It is planning to improve the efficiency of battery recycling. There are many battery-operated products that come with a fixed end, the commission proposal will upgrade the recycling process to extend the deadline for such a product.
Along with the improvement of the durability of electronic devices, the EU expects the proposed circular to have a positive impact on the economy and overall GDP growth. It is expected to boost sustainability and help create new jobs.
The lighting upgrade and emergence of new technology are changing the loved product in an obsolete device within a year. According to an estimate, in 2018 alone, 500 million tons of e-waste was generated around the globe. The growing competition to outrun other companies through innovation in manufacturing has resulted in a massive amount of obsolete device every year and eventually increased the burden on the environment. Laws like ‘Right to Repair’ could be crucial in reducing the soaring number of devices dumping every day due to the availability of a newer version or expired guarantee.