The Right to Repair – The Environmental Impact of the Treadmill of the New

Think back to pictures of your parents and grandparents from your childhood.

right to repair - grandfather repairing with grandchild

Many households had a TV that served well for over 15 years — in fact, many still work after 30 years. When something did break, grandfathers could usually fix most anything in a matter of hours. Not only because he was skillful but also because most consumer electronics had full schematics as part of the documentation.

But in 2024, repairing electronics is challenging even for qualified specialists, and that’s not a coincidence.

The House of Commons recently passed Bill C-244 to support the right to repair. It’s a step in the right direction for consumers and the environment.

But why is the right-to-repair is essential for our future?

What is the Right to Repair?

The more advanced electronics become, the harder it is to fix them. Smartphones, TVs, and even cars require specific proprietary parts that are impossible or difficult to obtain without the manufacturer’s cooperation. Components are miniaturized and tightly packed, requiring specialized tools. Many devices are complex systems requiring diagnostic software. And unlike in the past, repair manuals and schematics may not be readily available.

Case studies on four distinct electronic product categories reveal that their average actual lifespans fall short by at least 2.3 years compared to their (advertised) designed lifespans. [21]

“We are living in times in which our growth model is basically built on throwing away stuff. Basically, every two years, we buy a new product, and the production capacity of our industry is based on this kind of model,” says René Repasi, a German member of the European Parliament. [19]

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The Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Apple, and Tesla Repair Message

30 years ago, fixing most consumer electronics was more or less possible. Now? Many consumers buy new instead of fixing it themselves. That’s precisely what companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Apple, and Tesla lobby for. In their eyes, the right-to-repair law hurts their bottom line.

In 2019, Apple said it was expecting a $9 billion loss in revenue due to weaker iPhone demand partly caused by more people replacing their iPhone batteries instead of upgrading to new iPhones. [12]

Deloitte’s consumer survey found that 4 in 10 respondents say they usually just replace a faulty product with a new one. Plus, 93 in 100 said they prefer a new model over a used or refurbished product.

That adds up to nearly half of all products being disposed of after encountering a malfunction or defect, disregarding any potential for repair to extend their useful lifespan. [26]

“Companies got a little too aggressive, a little too greedy, and overreach in some important respects. This is a complicated problem that is not going to be solved through any one rule, or any one court case, or through any one piece of legislation.

What I would like to see is a combination of companies dealing with regulatory pressure and market pressure to design products that are more repairable, that are more durable, that are easier and cheaper to repair,” thinks Aaron Perzanowski, professor of law at the University of Michigan. [19]

Not Just Electronics – Other Consumer Products Impact the Environment

This issue concerns almost every kind of consumer product, not just smartphones and computers. The right to repair impacts cars to Husqvarna chainsaws that all need dealer authentication for verifying the firmware on new parts. [17]

Ugo Vallauri, a co-director of The Restart Project, a UK-based community repair organization and founding member of Right to Repair Europe, asserts that repair “will remain something only some people that are motivated by environmental reasons will choose.” [10]

John Deere & Co. is embroiled in civil antitrust litigations regarding their restrictive repair market in Illinois. The HB 4673 bill aims to help farmers and their independent mechanics obtain access to parts, documentation, and software necessary to restore costly machines to functionality. [18]

More products are purchased every year because people are unable (or unmotivated) to fix even minor problems themselves.

“The economy is so focused on the treadmill of the new. Repairability should at least be an option. At the very least, the circular economy in electronics should not be illegal.

The next question is: Will people actually engage in repairs at scale? Putting repair index scores next to retail price of a product is very compelling, but there is still a lot of consumer education needed,” says Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit. [22]

Per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), product manufacturers have employed numerous methods to obstruct consumers and independent repair shops from executing repairs on their goods.

These tactics encompass:

· intricate product designs,

· absence of access to repair documentation and necessary components,

· accentuating safety risks related to non-manufacturer repairs,

· preferential policies towards authorized repair networks,

· rigorous patent rights enforcement,

· discrediting the quality of non-OEM parts and independent repair services,

· implementation of software-based locks and mandatory firmware updates,

· subjecting customers to End User License Agreements (EULAs). [9]

In Conclusion

Governments, companies, and consumers all need to do their part to reduce the environmental impact caused by this treadmill of the new. New legislation is a start. Companies have a long list of ways to support the right to repair. Consumers, especially, require encouragement to embrace function after repair over the excitement of acquiring new.

Next time your smartphone or other consumer product encounters a malfunction or defect, consider repairing it instead of replacing it.

The Right to Repair – The Environmental Impact of the Treadmill of the New

What is the Right to Repair?

The Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Apple, and Tesla Repair Message

Not Just Electronics – Other Consumer Products Impact the Environment

In Conclusion

References:

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