Repair First: Giving Electronics a Longer Life

A cracked screen or a weak battery can turn a useful device into electronic waste. Yet many consumers discover that a repair is expensive, slow or impossible without specialist tools. Across Europe, new repair rules and product-design requirements are trying to make repair a more realistic choice.

Repair shop owner Marcus Bell says the problem begins long before a device reaches his workbench. Some products are glued together, spare parts are unavailable, or software prevents a replacement component from working correctly. In those cases, technical skill is not enough. Repairers need access to parts, manuals and diagnostic information at a reasonable cost.

Manufacturers offer a different perspective. Devices must remain safe, water-resistant and secure, and opening them can create risks if the work is done badly. They also point out that storing spare parts for every model over many years is costly. A repairable product therefore requires decisions about design, supply chains and support from the start, not a quick change after it goes on sale.

Consumer advocate Imani Clarke argues that people need reliable information before buying. A repair score, the expected availability of spare parts and an estimate of battery life could help customers compare products. However, a simple label can hide important details. A device may be easy to open but still have expensive parts, while a durable product may need very few repairs in the first place.

There is also a question of behaviour. Some people replace working phones because a newer model has a better camera or because software updates have ended. Repair policy can remove barriers, but it cannot make every consumer value a longer product life. Trade-in schemes and second-hand markets may therefore be part of the same conversation.

Bell says success should not be measured by the number of repairs alone. If better design means fewer failures, that is also progress. The wider goal is to keep useful products in circulation, reduce unnecessary waste and give buyers a genuine alternative to replacement. Repair is not always the answer, but it should be a practical option rather than an obstacle course.