Right to Repair: Empowering Consumers, Curbing E-Waste

Context:

• The government wants to replace the ‘use-and-throw’ design philosophy of products with a ‘right to repair’ framework. 

Revolutionizing Consumer Rights: The Emergence of Right to Repair Initiatives Globally

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs unveiled this idea in July 2022 and has set up a committee to prepare the framework.
• Framework: It will give consumers the option to repair their products rather than discard them and buy new ones. 
• Aim: To ensure the product can be repaired at a reasonable cost via third party service providers (even during the warranty period) rather than depending solely on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who are often costlier. 
  • To enable this, the OEMs will have to mandatorily share their product details with consumers. 
  • The government recently asked 112 companies in four sectors viz. farming equipment, electronic gadgets, consumer durables and automobiles to ensure that consumers enjoy the right to repair.
• International Practices: In March 2021, the European Union passed legislation on mandatory right to repair followed by the USA in July 2021. The United Kingdom too has a similar policy.

Navigating Challenges: Obstacles and Controversies Surrounding the Right to Repair Movement

• Resistance from Manufacturers: Manufacturers are resisting change and citing concerns over protecting their intellectual property rights.
• Lack of Voluntary Registration: A right to repair portal was unveiled by the consumer affairs ministry in December 2022 for voluntary registration of manufacturers, only 41 manufacturers registered. 
• Substantial Disruption to Business Model: It will force companies to change their business models. 
  • For example, OEMs restrict the availability of quality spare parts to their dealers thus the customer ends up paying more. Once the law takes effect, the dealers will lose customers, possibly impacting their viability.

Environmental Impact and Economic Benefits: The Crucial Role of the Right to Repair

• Boost Circular Economy: It seeks to replace the existing product design philosophy that prefers ‘use-and-throw’ and ‘planned obsolescence’ (making a product unusable in time) with one that fosters a circular economy.
• Enable Reuse and Recycling: India generated 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste in 2021-22, and only a third of it was recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills. 
  • Right to repair will save consumers money, reduce e-waste by extending the life of a gadget, boost third-party repair shops, create jobs and enable reuse and recycling of parts.
• Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Right to repair is critical for India to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070 as it will reduce e-waste by extending the life of a gadget.
• Reduced costs: Restoring worn components and third party service providers can reduce replacement costs.

News Source: Mint

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