A statement from Daniel Büchle, CEO of AfB social & green IT,
A statement from Daniel Büchle,
Green Automation & IT
The EU has made its decision: The 'right to repair' becomes a reality. As part of the
IT refurbishment community, I am delighted about the positive changes that this
regulation could bring for us: Easier repairability, longer useful life and therefore less electronic waste.
The agreement commits manufacturers to provide information about spare parts on their websites. This
promotes competition between suppliers and makes repairs easier and more affordable. In future,
manufacturers will also be required to publish repair instructions. This strengthens consumer
confidence and makes our work easier. A major benefit for climate and environment is the ban
on software blocks for the replacement of individual components, which manufacturers have
previously used to restrict repairs by third-party providers or make them uneconomical.
Overall, the right to repair is a step in the right direction. The EU is thus emphasising the importance of the circular economy as a key lever for reducing e-waste and resource depletion.
This is an approach that we fully support – after all, we have been refurbishing IT devices for 20 years and ensuring that they are used for as long as possible. We are therefore very familiar with the topic of repair - and the challenges that come with it. There are a number of things that need to be considered to ensure that IT equipment can be repaired and kept in use for as long as possible. This applies to both production and procurement. We have therefore compiled a wish list for everyone involved in the process:
Transparent prices: If repairs are to become an alternative to buying new equipment, spare parts must be offered at competitive prices.
Easily repairable: Manufacturers should not use software or hardware technologies that hinder independent repairs. Take serialisation, for example: in this process, components are linked to a specific device by serial number, which makes even the replacement of original spare parts virtually impossible. It must also be ensured that the replacement of third-party parts or parts from 3D printers is not blocked.
Replaceable components: Ideally, individual parts should not be soldered or glued, but rather plugged and screwed together. This makes it easier to replace defective parts, which in turn means that the appliance can be used for longer.
Overall, the right to repair is a step in the right direction. The EU is thus emphasising the importance of the circular economy as a key lever for reducing e-waste and resource depletion.
This is an approach that we fully support – after all, we have been refurbishing IT devices for 20 years and ensuring that they are used for as long as possible. We are therefore very familiar with the topic of repair - and the challenges that come with it. There are a number of things that need to be considered to ensure that IT equipment can be repaired and kept in use for as long as possible. This applies to both production and procurement. We have therefore compiled a wish list for everyone involved in the process:
Transparent prices: If repairs are to become an alternative to buying new equipment, spare parts must be offered at competitive prices.
Easily repairable: Manufacturers should not use software or hardware technologies that hinder independent repairs. Take serialisation, for example: in this process, components are linked to a specific device by serial number, which makes even the replacement of original spare parts virtually impossible. It must also be ensured that the replacement of third-party parts or parts from 3D printers is not blocked.
Replaceable components: Ideally, individual parts should not be soldered or glued, but rather plugged and screwed together. This makes it easier to replace defective parts, which in turn means that the appliance can be used for longer.
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