When a red date appears on the European consumer shopping calendar, everyone knows what that means: Black Friday, followed by Cyber Monday three days later. This year the event falls on Friday, November 24, creating a prime chance to snag all kinds of products at prices below the usual. Stores and major online retailers push deep discounts, making it a goldmine for shoppers in both the United States and Canada. Yet this surge in spending comes with a downside: more waste and higher emissions as people replace items that are still usable simply because a new model is offered or a sale tempts them to upgrade.
“What we are doing now is not sustainable. There is something wrong with our society. People buy and throw away. The current business model pushes a new product every couple of years. There are many jobs and lots of revenue in making more goods, but Europe’s economic pattern relies on rapid consumption, which cannot continue. The right to repair is essential if Europe is to shift toward a circular economy,” notes a German Social Democrat MP, René Repasi.
Data from the European Commission shows that moving toward greater repairability would cut waste and emissions. Discarding products too soon wastes resources and pulls in costs for consumers who favor replacements over repairs. Premature disposal generates CO2 equivalents in the hundreds of millions, drains materials, and creates vast amounts of waste each year across the union.
More repairable items
The overarching aim is to end this cycle with new rules that strengthen product repair. The eco design directive lays the groundwork for making products easier to repair and sets clearer obligations for manufacturers to support repairability. The Council recently endorsed the negotiating position, and the European Parliament showed strong backing, approving resolutions with broad cross‑party support.
The next step is interinstitutional talks, scheduled to begin on December 7 under the Spanish presidency, with hopes of closing the deal before the current legislative term ends. Advocates argue that the right to repair will show European citizens tangible benefits, uniting voices from the left and right in support of greener living. The goal is to create a record of progress ahead of the election season, highlighting practical steps toward a sustainable future.
The plan requires that defective items be repaired during the warranty period, with sellers prioritizing repair if it is cheaper or at least as costly as replacement, except where repair is inconvenient for the consumer. After the warranty, the rules tighten to protect consumer rights, though the balance of repair versus replacement remains pragmatic rather than absolute. In principle, the policy favors repair where cost and effort align favorably with extending a product’s life.
Supporters from the Greens say the statutory warranty should align with a product’s expected lifespan. If repair costs are covered beyond two years, it makes sense to invest in a higher‑quality item. Critics warn against hampering the green transition by overreaching regulations. Still, the direction is clear: a more robust repair framework would mark real progress for environmental goals and for consumers who value longevity.
Negotiations consider extending the legal warranty after repair, with a Council proposal for a six‑month minimum while allowing Member States to extend that period. They also seek a direct repair path with the manufacturer, not just the retailer, and a thriving independent repair market. The aim is to ensure access to spare parts, repair information, and tools at reasonable costs for the device’s life, while preventing manufacturers from blocking repairs through contracts or software restrictions.
To help implement these changes, governments may create online platforms to connect consumers with local repair services and refurbished products. Currently, only a fraction of devices are repaired, which wastes resources and stifles a thriving repair ecosystem. The debate highlights how repairability and competition can challenge monopolies and reduce environmental impact when consumers have real options.
On scope, the European Parliament hopes to cover washing machines, vacuum cleaners, smartphones, and bicycles, with room to expand as the eco‑design rules evolve. The more products that train consumers to repair rather than replace, the better it is for both people and the planet. To support this shift, lawmakers are asking manufacturers to provide loaner devices during repairs to minimize disruption for users.
There is ongoing discussion about incentives to make repairs affordable. Several member states have already piloted repair funds or vouchers to encourage fixes, backed by recovery programs and sector financing. Advocates argue that repair should be encouraged, not coerced, and that consumers deserve reliable products at fair prices. The consensus is that existing consumer protections should not be weakened, even as the continent moves toward a greener economy.