Reuse, repair, recycle and reap the financial rewards

New ecodesign laws aim to break away from the consumer society we have found ourselves living in.

These new laws now require electricity consuming products to be easier to repair or recycle, as well as being more energy efficient.

Currently the ecodesign of products has mainly focused on the product using less energy and being more efficient, these new laws focus on the longevity and reusability of products.

By April 2021 any electrical product sold within the EU market, be it TV’s, washing machines, freezers, screens or lighting products, will have to meet minimum repairability requirements.

The change is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by product manufacturing, waste disposal and inefficient products, in turn saving everyone money by extending the lifetime of products. When added, these energy efficiency requirements with ecodesign measures will save around 5% of the EU’s electricity consumption and reduce energy bills by £22 billion.

Will your products be compliant by April 2021?

Initially you will have to comply with the The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2617) as amended.

Companies will have to make available spare parts to independent professional repairers for up to 10 years after the purchase date. These parts will also need to be replaceable using common tools, without damaging the product.

For manufacturers of electrical products, a process of inspection and analysis will need to take place. Identifying if the product is compliant with the new ecodesign rules will be key.

If any part is not compliant, it may be worth putting them through a redesign process to make them easily repairable with tools readily available for customers.

Instructions will need to be provided for the customer, which are simple to understand and implement.

The safety of the customer also needs to be considered. Since customers are likely to be repairing products, additional safety mechanisms may need to be designed into the product.

Don’t be caught out at the final stage by these new laws, it could be very costly. Plan, prepare and be proactive throughout every stage of the manufacturing process for a successful complaint and ecodesigned product.