Household appliances and electronics (European market)

Global Electronics and Home Appliances Market

Main article: Household appliances and electronics (global market)

2021: Europe introduces 10-year warranty for all household appliances

On March 1, 2021, a new law came into force throughout the EU, which guarantees buyers of household appliances the so-called "right to repair." Manufacturers and sellers will have to provide customers with a ten-year warranty to reduce the annual amount of electrical waste.

The government plans to reduce the environmental impact of manufactured goods by making them more durable and energy efficient, and the new law will be a huge step in a given direction.

On March 1, 2021, a new law came into force throughout the EU that guarantees buyers of household appliances the so-called "right to repair"

Modern appliances are often sold in glued or soldered form, so that special tools are required for their repair. Another problem is the lack of spare parts. Sometimes the only broken tooth on a tiny plastic asterisk can be a serious stumbling block.

Under the new EU regulations, manufacturers will have to guarantee the availability of spare parts for up to ten years, although some will be provided only to professional repair companies to ensure their correct installation.

New devices must also be supplied with repair manuals and will be manufactured in such a way that, if necessary, when repair is not possible, the equipment can be dismantled using conventional tools.

Every year, Europeans produce more than 16 km of electric waste per person. About half of this garbage comes from broken household appliances, and the EU processes only about 40%, leaving a huge amount of potentially dangerous materials.

In repair shops, you can find many devices that broke down shortly after the expiration of the warranty, which is why manufacturers are often accused of using the planned obsolescence. But knowing that the device will last ten years can encourage consumers to choose more durable or easily repaired products.^[1]

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