Fix it, don't throw it away!

A fresh fashion is coming – repairing broken devices. More and more people decide to donate damaged equipment to the service, and what more courageous basic repairs even do themselves. The leading manufacturers in turn construct the latest equipment in a liable way and facilitate repair. And those producing "one-times" will besides gotta change their approach, mainly through appropriate government and EU "right to repair" (right to repair).

Partnership material

Electronics utilized to be a luxury good, and there were fewer on a computer or a GSM phone. Today, this equipment, especially Chinese brands, is in the scope of absolutely everyone – the fresh smartphone can already be bought for little than 200 PLN. However, this has led to a harmful phenomenon. erstwhile the device fails, its repair is most frequently unprofitable, resulting in the equipment landing in the trash can and we buy a fresh device. This is not only irresponsible behavior, but besides highly harmful to the environment. It is estimated that more than 35 million tonnes of electronic waste, which contains more than 30 million tonnes of resources per year, could be reused, reaches landfills. In the European Union itself! The premature disposal of products besides contributes to the emissions of an additional 260 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year.

Old electronics. Photo: Freepik

We are now at the tallness of the consumerism era, which is encouraged not only by the campaigns carried out by the producers themselves (not only electronics, but besides clothing and even cars), but besides by net influencers acting on their behalf. From all sides we are bombarded by advertisements of the latest smartphones, headphones, laptops, and in us the desire to buy the latest device is growing, despite the fact that now full utilized meets our requirements and – about horror – inactive works correctly. Therefore, a possible failure, frequently even a tiny component (e.g. 1 button stops working), is an perfect excuse for us to get free of the device and rush to the store (or enter its website) after the latest model.

In the meantime, as we emphasized in our Article on the Circular Economy, natural resources are not infinite. The production of each fresh product requires the usage of quite a few valuable resources, including water and energy, which involves greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. We ourselves lead our planet to destruction. According to the study of the Australian discipline Center Breakthrough National Centre for Climate RestorationIf we do not change our habits, by 2050, 55% of the world's population will be exposed to deadly conditions for 20 days a year, beyond the threshold of human survival.

But times change, and the latest fashion will be no longer the replacement of the device, and its repair – of course, until it inactive fulfils its function and our functional requirements. However, this requires the engagement of respective parties: producers, consumers and regulators.

Responsible production

Everything starts with the producers themselves. marketplace leaders are already implementing appropriate procedures for sustainable production respecting the environment, the usage of recycled materials, the usage of technologies that reduce water and energy consumption, and while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, specified as renewable energy (RES).

It is presently fashionable to extract plastics from processed plastic PET bottles, or from fishing nets. besides more and more metallic parts are produced from natural materials from recovery. Finally, the product is packed in cardboard packaging (without plastic elements) and the cardboard itself is made from wood from FSC certified forests.

Product packaging can besides be utilized to build, for example, a cat house. Photo: Samsung

Today, erstwhile choosing any electronic device, it is worth noting whether it was manufactured in accordance with the above standards, which the maker will surely boast about on its packaging.

Design to facilitate repair

The second component is the product plan itself, and in this article we will focus, of course, on electronic devices. slow to the lamest, the time erstwhile the devices were "one-off". The casings of many electronic equipment are inactive sealed in specified a way that any repair is virtually impossible (it involves permanent harm to the housing, as well as, by the way, other, pre-functioning components).

The mystery of polysinnel is the actions of any car manufacturers or household appliances, who cleverly combine the component of the road into 1 module, but durable, with cheap, frequent failures. The failure of the inexpensive component requires the replacement of a whole, costly module, although it would suffice to replace only the damaged, inexpensive part.

Also, any smartphones, tablets or laptops are built in specified a way that even a trivial failure (although a charging socket) requires a repair so costly that the consumer yet gives up and decides to throw distant the equipment and buy a fresh one. It is easy to find specified stories on the Internet, described by annoyed users.

It's changing. Currently, an expanding number of electronic devices have a plan that facilitates beginning the housing and replacing only a single damaged component. The failure of the charging socket – no problem, we only replace the socket in a specialized service (or even ourselves). Broken screen – replace the display itself. The battery that stopped charging – take it out, recycle it, mount a fresh battery.

Manufacturers themselves do not yet clearly declare which device is easier to repair, and which is harder to repair, but specified information can be found on the websites of professional electronics repair companies. They share information that the device is repairable and not. erstwhile choosing fresh equipment it is worth paying attention to these data and choosing a product that we will not gotta throw distant in case of a insignificant fault.

Repair – in service or on your own

Once there is simply a malfunction – we break the screen in the smartphone, 1 of the sockets in the laptop stops working, smartwatch stops charging – the first thing we should do is effort to fix the device. There's actually a fewer options.

The easiest thing to do is to have a malfunction happen during the warranty period. We give the device for warranty and unless the failure is due to mechanical damage, the service should fix the equipment free of charge.

However, erstwhile we harm the device from our responsibility or it is after warranty, we propose utilizing the services of professional companies, specified as Krakow company Fixit, which specializes in repairing not only electronic equipment but besides household appliances. As part of its circular economy, it offers FIX&REPAIR – full after-sales service related to both warranty and post-guarantee repairs. The company has rich spare parts stored in its own warehouse. It besides cooperates with key suppliers of components and modules of supported devices, so in the absence of availability of essential parts in Poland, it can pull them from anywhere in the world. Thanks to this, the service is moving smoothly and the repaired device will rapidly return to the user.

The removal of the responsibility is usually much cheaper than buying a fresh device, the repaired equipment will work like a mill fresh and, by the way, we will not contribute to the expansion of the top of the garbage, which is presently estimated at over 35 million tonnes per year.

What is more courageous can be done by same - repair. You've got to have any free time and knowledge. On YouTube, we will find quite a few detailed guidebooks, as well as precise guidelines on the markings of the components that we request to order for repair. Unfortunately, not all parts can be bought as private persons, or components may not be available in Poland, but if we have a bit of a desire, it is worth to start repairing ourselves – provided that we do not origin more harm than before the fault! As a last resort, in case of problems, you can always study to a professional service like the mentioned Fixit.

Equipment renovated to replace new

Environmentally friendly is besides the acquisition of refurbished devices alternatively of mill fresh ones. We do not always request the absolutely latest smartphone or laptop. Often, the yearly or even biennial model full meets our requirements. Currently, many companies offer the chance to acquisition renovated equipment – i.e. used, but subjected to professional refresh. specified devices undergo peculiar tests to verify that the equipment is 100% functional. If necessary, a fresh battery is replaced in the device. The enclosure is besides frequently replaced (if the erstwhile 1 has excessive traces of use) or display. The effect of this is that the renovated device frequently looks practically new, with the difference that it is sold most frequently in a replacement packaging. And – importantly – the price of specified equipment is importantly lower than the latest model consecutive from the factory.

Fixit besides offers FIX&REWORK, where it acquires utilized equipment, repairs and replaces damaged or utilized parts, and then disposes of ready-to-market equipment.

The process of refurbishing is highly crucial for the economics of companies, then the final client and environmental protection, including the planet's resources. Practices of re-use of electronic devices fall straight into the circular economy model, and “repair” — repair and “refurbish” — refresh have the possible to prolong the life cycle of the product. Additionally, after reusing the equipment, we apply further circular practices. We don't throw the product into the garbage and we don't increase the amount of electronic waste through it, we just change its use, heading for recycling and then secondary production. —This is Mariusz Ryło, CEO of FIXIT.

We not only save money erstwhile purchasing renovated equipment, but besides contribute to protecting the environment – we extend the life of already manufactured equipment and reduce the number of those that request to be produced again, which causes the consumption of natural resources and the emanation of harmful greenhouse gases.

The renewed smartphone looks and works as new

And if we gotta replace the device with a newer one, due to the fact that the presently utilized 1 lacks the essential functionality, the old device can be resold Fixit as part of another service offered by the company, the FIX&GO. The company acquires utilized equipment and renews it and, if not possible, professional, environmentally friendly disposal (including the usage of its components to repair another equipment).

Right to repair

What about producers who will proceed to produce non-repairable burners out of the desire for greater profits? For specified entrepreneurs regulators prepare a legal whip. 1 of the laws is "probably to be repaired" (right to repair), a directive that the European Parliament has been working on since 2019.

The latest amendment came into force in January 2023. It is intended not only to save consumers but, above all, to reduce waste and accomplish the objectives of European Green Dealing. It is part of the European Commission's strategy to make Europe a climate neutral continent by 2050 at the latest.

The right to repair assumes that damaged products are first repaired and exchanged for fresh products only in situations where the responsibility is so serious that the repair is economically unprofitable (the cost of repair exceeds the price of the fresh equipment).

The Act concerns both repairs under the legal warrant and after its expiry. As part of the “right to repair”, consumers can request repairs not only in authorised, but besides in their services. In addition, a platform will be created to let consumers to find convenient services according to their location and the standards they meet. The standards determine, among another things, the quality of repair, which includes the velocity of repair and availability of spare parts (a natural advantage will be gained here by services that have a well-equipped warehouse of spare components). The platform will besides let the cost of repair to be pre-valued, making it easier for the consumer to decide.

The right to repair will make it easier for consumers to repair equipment that inactive meets their requirements. Photo: Freepik

The fresh directive will not only contribute to the circular economy, but will besides make crucial financial savings. It is estimated that so far consumers, forced to trade alternatively of repairing equipment, have lost nearly EUR 12 billion per year in the European Union itself. The fresh rules are intended to make a large part of this amount stay in their pocket.

The initiative will besides bring economical growth and investment in the EU at EUR 4.8 billion, mainly in the area of repair.

Fixing is fashionable!

Leading manufacturers began to manufacture their equipment in accordance with the EU guidelines, even before the applicable government entered into. They are already full prepared for fresh regulations.

Sustainable equipment, utilizing recycled materials and respecting the environment, is now increasingly desirable by consumers. Producers are aware of this and have late stressed the fact of sustainable production on the occasion of the Prime Minister of fresh devices, as well as on their boxes or marketing materials.

There are inactive fewer (even large, well-known companies!) who inactive effort to become a perch, but these besides are slow changing their attitude.

Soon all devices offered in the European Union will gotta meet additional conditions. For example, all devices equipped with a battery will offer an easy replacement of the battery itself utilizing mostly available tools. This does not mean that the phones with the rear flap mounted on the latches will return, but alternatively of being glued, they will most likely be bolted, which, for example, allows smartphones to hold waterproofness.

Soon the replacement of the battery in smartphones will be much simpler than in the image above! Photo: Freepik

We will be able to easy exchange batteries in smartphones, tablets, laptops, cleaning robots, and even individual transport devices like scooters or electrical scooters.

Manufacturers will besides be required to offer spare parts for 5 to 10 years after the launch of the device (depending on the product category), and will besides gotta supply service instructions to professional services. It is besides proposed to introduce a peculiar score determining the repairability of the device. specified a score will be included on peculiar labels akin to the current energy labels.

The article was created in cooperation with Fixit