What is the repairability index?

This index was created by the "anti-waste" law of 20 February 2020 (Law No. 2020-105 on combating waste and promoting the circular economy for electrical and electronic products).

The index must be displayed on smartphones, laptops, televisions, lawnmowers and front-loading washing machines since 1 January 2021, and on dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and pressure washers since 4 November 2022.

The repairability index is presented as a score out of 10. The higher the score, the easier it is to repair the device. A colour code ranging from red to green, corresponding to the score, allows consumers to quickly identify the product's repairability level.

Several criteria are used to determine this score, including: the clarity of the instructions, ease of disassembly, availability and price of spare parts.

This index encourages manufacturers to design products that can be easily repaired, thereby combating planned obsolescence.

For consumers, the index provides an understanding of the degree of repairability, encouraging them to repair rather than replace, thereby making significant long-term savings.

The legislator therefore wants to avoid overconsumption and waste in order to preserve the natural resources needed to manufacture electrical and electronic equipment.

By 2024, this repairability index is expected to evolve into a "sustainability" index. Several rating criteria will be added, such as product robustness and reliability.

Sources:

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/industrie/appareils-electroniques-bientot-la-fin-du-casse-tete-pour-changer-de-batterie_5994977.

html https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/indice-reparabilite