The electrical and digital industry association ZVEI supports the EU and the federal government’s goal of strengthening the repair culture. The association surveyed some of its more than 1,100 members in the summer. According to the now published results, the survey participants were able to successfully process nine out of ten repair requests in 2023. In 79 percent of cases, the repair was basically possible. These repairs could almost always be carried out successfully, namely in 98 percent of the remaining requests.
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In other cases, advice on how to operate the device or deal with the error message was sufficient. ZVEI writes. To be honest, there was no merit in these requests. In addition, the appliances were replaced as part of the legal warranty. Many users want to get their household technology working again themselves. According to the association, last year the industry was able to satisfactorily resolve 93 percent of inquiries for spare parts from private individuals. Karin Chardon, managing director of the ZVEI household electrical appliances association, explained that for safety reasons, it is not always acceptable to give such components to do-it-yourself fans. Legally, a distinction is made between private and professional repairmen when it comes to access to spare parts, as the dangers should not be underestimated. Bringing in professionals is often “absolutely necessary”.
Approximately 25 percent of the members of the ZVEI professional associations for household electrical appliances participated in the exploratory survey. According to the association, these included “the largest German companies in the industry”. In 2023, the participating companies received a total of 1.7 million repair requests.
Environmental support: Manufacturers aren’t doing enough
“The ZVEI survey does not correspond to reality and highlights the repair issue and the role of manufacturers in an inappropriate way,” Thomas Fischer, head of the circular economy department at Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), said online. Only a limited number of members have already responded, who are presumably “well on the right track” on the subject. “Repair conditions are nowhere as good as they seem,” complains Fischer. For critical points such as poor eco-design, limited repairability, lack of relevant information or software-based obstacles, “the manufacturers are largely responsible”.
The expected shift towards a circular economy still needs to gain momentum. Between 2014 and 2022, the proportion of German citizens who repair or have products repaired themselves fell from 56 to 46 percent. Round Table Repair Report Based on representative, comparable studies on environmental awareness from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) over two years. According to 36 and 30 percent of those surveyed, the cost of repairs and the availability of spare parts were the most common barriers in 2022, followed by doubts about the possibility of repairing an item yourself and uncertainty about whether you can do the repair yourself or not at a trustworthy institution (29 percent each).
When it comes to the technical aspects of repair, consumers in the latest UBA study value better availability of spare parts (96 percent), modularity of products (95 percent) and longer provision of software updates and repair instructions for minor faults (92 percent). When buying new electrical appliances, those surveyed prioritized longevity (80 percent), functionality and high quality (73 percent) and repairability (51 percent).
The right to repair is a done deal
At this year’s IFA, Miele emphasized that the circular economy is important for the home appliance provider: “We want to give our appliances a second life and rely on the reusability and reuse of appliance components and materials,” emphasized the head of the Gütersloh-based group, Reinhard Zinkann, ahead of the trade fair. The company therefore continues to focus on long-lasting, repair-friendly products and resource-saving production. At IFA, Miele is presenting a concept study of an appliance that, according to its own statements, “is made almost entirely of circular materials and can be returned almost completely to the material cycle.”
In April, the EU Parliament approved a draft directive on the right to repair. The new requirement applies to products for which repair requirements using the ecodesign approach already exist under EU law. These are smartphones, tablets, servers, screens, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and welding machines, and soon also vacuum cleaners. ZVEI believes that a holistic approach is necessary. In addition to legal requirements for manufacturers, educational work and incentives such as repair bonuses are important.
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