Sustainability instead of scrapping: Here we explain whether the right to repair actually gives reason to hope for durable products.
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The European right to repairs under the magnifying glass
Rapid technology breaks down quickly
The customer is left out in the rain
Goal: Durable technology
Read the article in c’t 15/2023
Soon after the guarantee and warranty period has expired, it is at Smartphones and many other everyday technical devices often have time for something new, because repairs are often impossible due to a lack of spare parts.
It is unattractive for manufacturers and importers to maintain spare parts stores for old products. In addition, highly-integrated microelectronics, cheap production and ties to software that is no longer maintained have long since pulled the rug out from under the feet of the good old repairman with a soldering iron and measuring device.
Consumers repeatedly suspect that manufacturers are taking advantage of intentional obsolescence; however, it cannot be proven. Even buyers who would like to keep old devices longer see themselves forced to discard them if there are minor defects due to the lack of repair opportunities. All of this wastes raw materials and energy.
There is another way to be sustainable – more and more technology users are beginning to realize that. Anyone who wants to get to grips with the problem legally is repeatedly confronted with a fundamental hurdle: buyers normally have no contractual claims against manufacturers. Since your partner in the contract of sale is the seller, you must contact him; the manufacturer and its product policy are left out.
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The European right to repairs under the magnifying glass. Rapid technology quickly breaks down. The customer is left out in the rain. Goal: Durable technology.
Read the article in c’t 15/2023.
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