Right to Repair
The EU and UK are both implementing new ecodesign and energy labelling requirements to increase producer responsibility and reduce energy usage and electrical waste. The UK Government’s new Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 originate from EU proposals made prior to the UK leaving the EU.
Fix
Repair our own things or choose which store or service company to use.
Manuals and Tools
Manuals and diagnostic tools used by dealers.
Personalization
Unlock and modify the software on our devices.
EU Circular Economy Action Plan
The European Commission describes the Action Plan as follows:
«The Circular Economy Action Plan provides a future-oriented agenda for achieving a cleaner and more competitive Europe in co-creation with economic actors, consumers, citizens and civil society organisations. It aims at accelerating the transformational change required by the European Green Deal, while building on circular economy actions implemented since 2015. This plan will ensure that the regulatory framework is streamlined and made fit for a sustainable future, that the new opportunities from the transition are maximised, while minimising burdens on people and businesses.
The plan presents a set of interrelated initiatives to establish a strong and coherent product policy framework that will make sustainable products, services and business models the norm and transform consumption patterns so that no waste is produced in the first place. This product policy framework will be progressively rolled out, while key product value chains will be addressed as a matter of priority. Further measures will be put in place to reduce waste and ensure that the EU has a well-functioning internal market for high quality secondary raw materials. The capacity of the EU to take responsibility for its waste will be also strengthened.”
The Action Plan also includes a «right to repair» initiative, 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. In March 2021, the EU introduced new Right to repair standards. Under these new EU standards, manufacturers will have to supply spare parts for certain household appliances for up to 10 years (e.g., washing
machines/washer dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and televisions).
Sources:
European Commission, «Circular Economy Plan – For a cleaner and more competitive Europe», 2020.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), «Draft Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations 2021: Government Response», March 2021.
On 30 July 2020, the UK Government published a «policy paper statement» in which it set out its approach to transposing the EU CEAP measures into domestic law.
Research Briefing #9302. «Right to Repair Regulations». Conway, Lorraine, 2021.
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9302/CBP-9302.pdf
Why choose us?
Manufacturers are trying to shut down independent repair shops.
They say service manuals are proprietary. Fortunately, not all companies are like this. Support companies that are friendly to repairs, such as Dell and Patagonia.
Manufacturers have created a monopoly on repair.
When there is only one repair shop, prices go up and quality goes down. Companies have every incentive to drive up prices and drive down competition.
An army of repair technicians is ready to fill the void. All they need is a little help.
Companies don't want you to repair their products.
It took a lawsuit to force Apple to offer a battery replacement program. Many companies refuse to sell replacement parts to independent stores.
That is not right.
Manufacturers keep repair codes secret.
Los técnicos de reparación independientes necesitan la misma información que tienen los talleres de reparación del fabricante. El concesionario Ford tiene acceso a los códigos de diagnóstico que necesita el mecánico de tu vecindario.
Pero esos códigos son a menudo de propiedad exclusiva, y los fabricantes limitan el acceso a las herramientas que pueden leerlos. Es por eso que Massachusetts aprobó las leyes de Derecho de Reparación de los Propietarios de Automóviles en 2012, y por qué grupos como AAA, Autozone, y Valvoline están abogando por una legislación similar.
Real testimonials
