'Right to repair': EU directive enters into force

Repair services more accessible, transparent, and affordable – “right to repair” even after the statutory warranty has expired – EU member states must transpose requirements into national law by the end of July 2026 – 35 million tons of waste per year across the EU due to prematurely discarded products

On July 30, 2024, the EU Directive on the “Right to Repair” (R2R) came into force. Under certain conditions, consumers will have the right to have their goods repaired both within and outside the statutory warranty periods. This applies to goods that are technically repairable under EU law, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, or refrigerators. The EU directive aims to enable consumers to have goods repaired instead of replacing them when a product is damaged or defective.

The objectives: reducing waste, strengthening the circular economy

Repairs help reduce waste and save consumers money. The directive aims to increase demand in the repair sector while providing incentives for the development of more sustainable business models. By encouraging the extension of product lifecycles, the new legislation will also contribute to reducing waste in the future. Last but not least, it makes repair a more attractive economic activity that can create high-quality jobs in Europe. This benefits not only all economic actors, but also the environment. Discarded products are often still usable goods that could be repaired, but are often thrown away prematurely. According to the European Commission, this causes 35 million tons of waste, 30 million tons of wasted resources, and 261 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU each year. Also according to the European Commission, the initiative is expected to achieve savings of 18.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, 1.8 million tons of resources, and 3 million tons of waste over a period of 15 years.