In 2022, global e-waste surpassed 62 million tonnes and only 22% was recycled.
What Is the EU Doing?
All member countries of the EU will have to implement the (right to repair) Repair Directive starting 31 July 2026. As per Interreg Euro-MED, manufacturers of certain products, such as fridges and smartphones, will have to make them serviceable to consumers or repair them in a timely manner.
What Could Repair Save?
The same resource states that repairable goods cause 35 million tons of waste and 261 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year in Europe. It is stated that early disposal of these products costs consumers around €12 billion each year.
Are There Limits?
Right to Repair Europe has stated that although the directive is a good sign for the European Union, the scope of work is rather limited. Repair must pair with safe electronics recycling, and longer-lasting devices ease demand for rare earth mining.
Keep Reading More Environmental News
Are Net Zero Pledges Credible?
Check which corporate net zero pledges hold up.
Do Data Centres Harm the Ocean?
Read about the hidden impact of underwater data centres on marine life.
Is Rooftop Solar Worth It?
See how rooftop solar works, what it costs and who benefits.
