Repair cafés: The rescue against planned obsolescence in Stendal!

Repair cafés: The rescue against planned obsolescence in Stendal!

In recent years, repair cafés have become more important in Germany, including in Cologne. These innovative facilities not only offer a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new defective devices, but also promote awareness of sustainability and consumer rights. One example of this is the Repair Café in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, which is considered a pioneer in helping consumers repair everyday items. According to the Saxony-Anhalt Consumer Center, 89% of consumers are interested in repairs, but only around 23% of defective devices are actually repaired. There is clear potential for improvement here, and that should change.

Susanne Riedel from the consumer advice center is calling for a nationwide platform for reliable repair companies and bonuses for repaired devices. “Consumers have to become more active in order to take advantage of the repair options,” says Riedel. Dietrich Zosel from Repair-Café suggests that extending warranty periods could motivate manufacturers to develop more durable and repairable products. The discussion about planned obsolescence and the responsibility of manufacturers has been going on for years. This issue is now more relevant than ever due to the new regulations of the European Union.

European repair guidelines

On February 1, 2024, the European Parliament and member states agreed on new rules on the “right to repair”. This initiative aims to provide easier and cheaper repairs for technically repairable devices. Manufacturers are now required to provide public information about their repair services and the costs of common repairs. In addition, Member States must introduce measures such as repair vouchers or repair funds to promote repairs. These new rules meet an urgent need for sustainable consumption and less disposable mentality [it-boltwise.de](https://www.it-boltwise.de/ repair-cafes-als-answer-auf-geplante-obsolescence.html).

A European repair platform will soon offer support so that consumers can more easily find repair workshops. The variety of products affected ranges from household appliances such as washing machines to smartphones. However, it should be noted that furniture and headphones are not yet part of the regulations and cars remain excluded from this initiative. In Switzerland, the environmental protection law is also being adapted to improve requirements for the service life of products verbrauchentenschutz.ch.

The path to a sustainable future

Finally, on July 30, 2024, the “Right to Repair” Directive came into force, which is part of the European Green Deal. This measure complements the Ecodesign Regulation, which aims at more sustainable product design and must also be implemented into national law in Austria by July 31, 2026 [derstandard.at](https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000239461/recht-auf- repair-das-ende-der-geplanten-obsolescence). Despite the positive developments, the challenge remains to raise consumer awareness and motivate them to actively participate in the repair culture. It is important to bring about a change in awareness that focuses on repairs and the associated economic and ecological benefits.

The path to a resource-saving and sustainable future is clear at this point: We must regain responsibility for our consumption decisions and actively advocate for a repair-friendly society. The repair culture not only offers economic opportunities, but also makes a decisive contribution to environmental protection by reducing electronic waste.