Washing machines, TVs and fridges will be cheaper to run under a new "Right to Repair" law, the government has said. From Thursday, manufact

'Right to Repair' law will extend lifespan of products, government says

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2021-07-01 00:30:05

Washing machines, TVs and fridges will be cheaper to run under a new "Right to Repair" law, the government has said.

From Thursday, manufacturers will have to make spares available to consumers, with the aim of extending the lifespan of products by up to 10 years, it said.

The Right to Repair rules are designed to tackle "built-in obsolescence" where manufacturers deliberately build appliances to break down after a certain period to encourage consumers to buy new ones.

Changes to energy efficiency standards this year will also mean savings for consumers and cut eight megatonnes of carbon emissions in 2021 by reducing how power-hungry goods are, the government said.

Energy minister Anne Marie Trevelyan said: "The tougher standards will ensure more of our electrical goods can be fixed rather than have to be thrown away when they stop working, putting more money back in the pockets of consumers."

Climate change minister Lord Callanan added: "We can all play our part in ending our contribution to climate change, even when we're choosing a new electrical appliance."