What the EU's Right to Repair Means for American Consumers

"There are billions of reasons to accelerate repair services. According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024, the world generated a record 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022. That's an 82% increase compared to 2010. Less than a quarter of e-waste was properly collected and recycled, leaving approximately $62 billion in recoverable natural resources unaccounted for. Americans contribute significantly to this problem, disposing of approximately 416,000 cell phones daily and generating nearly 8 million tons of e-waste annually."

"The European Commission estimates that premature disposal of consumer electronics results in 261 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually and costs EU consumers about €12 billion annually in unnecessary replacements. The American story is similar: U.S. PIRG research indicates that easy device repair could save an average family $330 every year. What the EU Right To Repair Directive Does The Right to Repair Directive, combined with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation introduced in 2025, creates a multi-layered framework requiring manufacturers to:"

The EU finalized the Right to Repair Directive in July 2024, to become law across EU countries by July 2026. The directive and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (introduced in 2025) require manufacturers to offer repairs beyond warranty periods, extend warranties after in-warranty repairs, and provide spare parts for common devices. The rules affect global supply chains and products used by American consumers. Global e-waste reached 62 million tonnes in 2022, with less than a quarter properly recycled, leaving large recoverable resources unused. Easier repair could cut emissions and save households significant money annually.

Read at Earth911