Right to repair: the EU’s actions to make repairs more attractive
After pushing for it for years, MEPs have adopted legislation that guarantees the right to repair products that can be fixed.
Throwing away goods that could be repaired has a significant impact on the environment as it leads to 35 million tonnes of waste annually in the EU. The right to repair is seen as a key step for the EU’s plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal, the EU’s roadmap to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
In April 2024, the Parliament adopted the directive on the right to repair that aims to encourage more sustainable consumption by making it easier to repair defective goods, reducing waste and supporting the repair sector. René Repasi, the German S&D member in charge of steering the legislation through Parliament, said: “Consumers’ right to repair products will now become a reality. It will be easier and cheaper to repair instead of purchase new, expensive items. This is a significant achievement for Parliament and its commitment to empower consumers in the fight against climate change.”
Parliament has been in favour of improving consumers’ right to repair for more than a decade and has made a number of concrete proposals to the European Commission to make repairs systematic, cost-efficient and attractive.
