The Circular Economy Action Plan proposal by the European Commission (EC) introduces right to repair legislation for consumer electronics-- meaning vendors will need to build longer-lasting products that are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.
Part of an all-encompassing agenda for sustainable growth, the legislation insists the industry should restrict single-use products and tackle "premature obsolescence," all in the name of helping the EU transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. The EC plans to push right to repair through an expansion of the Ecodesign Directive, the legislation setting energy efficiency standards for home appliances, while a "Circular Electronics Initiative" promotes reusability, reparability and the upgradeability of components and software.
“We only have one Planet Earth, and yet by 2050 we will be consuming as if we had three. The new Plan will make circularity the mainstream in our lives and speed up the green transition of our economy," commissioner for the environment, oceans and fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius says. "We offer decisive action to change the top of the sustainability chain – product design. Future-oriented actions will create business and job opportunities, give new rights to European consumers, harness innovation and digitalisation and, just like nature, make sure that nothing is wasted.”
It is currently believed less than 40% of electronic waste is recycled in the EU. The proposal also includes a regulatory framework for batteries and vehicles, a revision of end-of-life rules for vehicles and measures to reduce the amount of package products include, with the final aim to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030.
