Right to Repair: why all the fuss?

Over 200 million smartphones are sold in Europe every year. That’s 6.7 sold every second. How long do they last on average ?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 5 years
CORRECT!

A 2020 study by the European Environment Agency showed that smartphones last on average 2 years which is 3 years less than what people would like them to last. Extending the lifetime of all smartphones in the EU by 1 year would save 2.1 Mt CO2 per year by 2030, the equivalent of taking over a million cars off the roads. This is why one of our first campaign demands was measures to make longer-lasting and more repairable smartphones the norm!
SORRY!

A 2020 study by the European Environment Agency showed that smartphones last on average 2 years which is 3 years less than what people would like them to last. Extending the lifetime of all smartphones in the EU by 1 year would save 2.1 Mt CO2 per year by 2030, the equivalent of taking over a million cars off the roads. This is why one of our first campaign demands was measures to make longer-lasting and more repairable smartphones the norm!

Let’s stay with smartphones. How much waste do you think a 200 gram phone generates during its production, including all stages of mining and manufacture?
- 23 kg
- 47 kg
- 86 kg
CORRECT!

86kg of “invisible waste” is generated on average to produce a smartphone from scratch according to a study by Avfall Sverige on the waste footprint of products. This can be mining waste, slag and other type of waste produced during the extraction of minerals and the manufacturing of the product.
SORRY!

86kg of “invisible waste” is generated on average to produce a smartphone from scratch according to a study by Avfall Sverige on the waste footprint of products. This can be mining waste, slag and other type of waste produced during the extraction of minerals and the manufacturing of the product.

Europe is the largest generator of electronic waste per person in the world. How much do Europeans generate on average per year?
- 7kg
- 13kg
- 16kg
CORRECT!

16 kg. Europe ranked first worldwide in the 2019 UN e-waste monitor in terms of e-waste generation per capita, with 16.2 kg per capita. Oceania was second (16.1 kg per capita), followed by the Americas (13.3 kg per capita), while Asia and Africa generated just 5.6 and 2.5 kg per capita, respectively.
SORRY!

16 kg. Europe ranked first worldwide in the 2019 UN e-waste monitor in terms of e-waste generation per capita, with 16.2 kg per capita. Oceania was second (16.1 kg per capita), followed by the Americas (13.3 kg per capita), while Asia and Africa generated just 5.6 and 2.5 kg per capita, respectively.

Our electronics are filled with gold, copper and aluminium, as well as “critical raw materials” that need to be mined from the Earth. What is the recycling rate of these critical raw materials?
- Less than 6%
- 38%
- More than 55%
CORRECT!

For the vast majority, it’s less than 6%: Rare earth elements like neodymium have nearly insignificant rates of recycling. Recyclers are constantly playing catch-up to an ever-faster cycle of new products, new materials and new technologies – having to invent new techniques and business models for processing dead devices. What this means in practice is that demand for virgin critical raw materials continues to increase with every new product we buy. This is why we need the Right to Repair to extend the lifespan of our devices.
SORRY!

For the vast majority, it’s less than 6%: Rare earth elements like neodymium have nearly insignificant rates of recycling. Recyclers are constantly playing catch-up to an ever-faster cycle of new products, new materials and new technologies – having to invent new techniques and business models for processing dead devices. What this means in practice is that demand for virgin critical raw materials continues to increase with every new product we buy. This is why we need the Right to Repair to extend the lifespan of our devices.

Which European country informs consumers on how repairable a device is through a "repair index"?
- Italy
- France
- Sweden
CORRECT!

Since January 2021, France has implemented a repair index on smartphones, TVs, laptops, washing machines and lawn mowers to inform consumers of how repairable a product is. The score is calculated based on criteria such as: ease of disassembly, price and availability of spare parts and access to repair information. This year, we’ll be fighting to bring a similar tool everywhere in Europe!
SORRY!

Since January 2021, France has implemented a repair index on smartphones, TVs, laptops, washing machines and lawn mowers to inform consumers of how repairable a product is. The score is calculated based on criteria such as: ease of disassembly, price and availability of spare parts and access to repair information. This year, we’ll be fighting to bring a similar tool everywhere in Europe!

Join our campaign for the Right to Repair in Europe!
As you may have guessed, keeping our products for longer is the most eco-friendly option. But to do this, we need to be able to repair them. Which means, having the right to open a product, obtain the repair instructions, spare parts at an affordable price, or specialised tools that are needed for the repair. Join the movement for longer-lasting and more repairable products!
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Join our campaign for the Right to Repair in Europe!