Under the new Sustainable Consumption Law, household appliances and electronics will need a new label that reveals the repairability index of the device. It will indicate how easy or hard it is to repair the product.
In an interview with EFE, Bibiana Medialdea, the secretary general for Consumption and Gaming, explained that this label will show how easy or difficult it is to obtain the replacement parts and how the repair price compares to the product price.
For instance, when shopping for a washing machine, buyers will not only compare energy efficiency and price, but also the score on the repairability index to gauge how easily the appliance can be repaired relative to others.
Additionally, the law will consider ecodesign, which is the design of products to ensure greater durability and easier repairs.
Medialdea describes the measure as a pivotal turning point, signaling a new generation of sustainable rights and consumer protections, guided by EU directives and regulations issued over the last year.
Based on one of these directives, the Sustainable Consumption Law will require companies to substantiate environmental information, addressing a current problem: insufficient or misleading data rather than a lack of information altogether.
As she notes, given that the public is already highly aware of sustainability, many firms offer sustainability-related marketing. The concern is ensuring that claims are always accurate, well-supported, and not misleading.
Consequently, vague environmental claims that lack certification or are overly generic, such as labeling a product as ecological, green, or environmentally friendly without substantiation, will be prohibited.
Will companies face penalties for misleading information? The answer is yes, with sanctions potentially ranging from substantial fines to several times the illicit profit obtained from that advertising.
More than half of European and Spanish environmental claims are not well substantiated, Medialdea notes. The authorities are preparing a best-practice guide that explains how to implement truthful, non-confusing sustainability marketing policies.
Spanish citizens are among Europeans who increasingly weigh sustainability in their purchasing decisions and are willing to pay more for sustainable options, according to recent Eurobarometer data.
This explains the ministry’s focus on ensuring that companies bear responsibility and provide argument-based information about their sustainability marketing without creating unfair competition, according to the sustainability official.
The Sustainable Consumption Law will regulate the right to repair, combat eco-washing, and protect against unfair practices. As Minister Pablo Bustinduy noted during the announcement, the term sustainable is increasingly used in greenwashing strategies, to the point that its value and meaning are diluted.
He emphasized that the concept should be taken seriously and properly defined to preserve its integrity and usefulness.