BEUC news - 04.06.2015

Making products more durable and repairable was the focus of a conference on “The new circular economy package - what role for repairable and longer-lasting products?” that took place in the framework of the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) on 2 June 2015. BEUC contributed to the event, which was organised by the European Environmental Bureau, the Repair Café Foundation and RREUSE. The conference showcased practical examples of how short-lived products such as mobile phones, televisions and household appliances increase costs both for consumers and for the environment. It is essential that the useful lifetime of consumer products is prolonged and that consumers are able to take meaningful purchase decisions: currently, EU legislation barely covers either of these areas.

A #fixitselfie competition was launched to support the conference’s call for more durable products. People from across the EU are invited to upload photos of any item they have repaired over the past year to Facebook and Twitter. In addition to its playful aspect, this initiative aims to send a clear message to the EU that repair activities should be supported as they can help to prevent waste as well as to create jobs and economic value.

Results of the discussions will feed into the ongoing public consultation of the European Commission on circular economy, which is open until 20 August 2015.