Mandatory for a number of products since 1er January 2021on five product categories (smartphones, laptops, televisions, lawnmowers, window washers)the reparability index consists of a score out of 10.
Its objective? Combating obsolescence by informing the consumer about the whether or not a product is repairable at the time of purchase and thus extend its life and use.
From 4 November 2022, four new product categories will be affected (top washing machines, dishwashers, hoovers, high pressure cleaners). This tool, provided for in the anti-waste law for a circular economy, aims to provide consumers with better information on the more or less repairable nature of their purchases.
This means that manufacturers will now be required to provide disposal of spare parts for certain electrical products within two years of product launch and for a minimum of seven or ten years, depending on the part. Some of these spare parts will be available directly to consumers, while others will only be available to professionals if the repair is difficult or dangerous.
How is the reparability index calculated?
In order to determine the reparability index of a product, several criteria are taken into account. These include
- the availability of technical documentation
- the ease of disassembly and the tools needed to achieve this
- the availability of spare parts
- the price of spare parts in relation to the price of the new product.
It is up to the manufacturer to calculate the reparability index of the product he is offering for sale. To do this, he must rely on a scale determined precisely by decree for each product category.
By 2024, the anti-waste law for a circular economy foresees that this reparability index will become a sustainability indexThis was achieved by adding new criteria such as robustness or reliability of products.
How can we prepare to make repairable products?
Like Design For Manufacturing (DFM), Design For Repairability (DFR) is becoming an essential approach for design offices and manufacturers.
Hybster, as a producer of electronic and mechatronic sub-assemblies, integrates the issues of repairability, sustainability and end-of-life management from the very first conceptual drafts.
The role of the designer
Assuming that the right to repair will cover more and more products in the future, how can designers ensure that products are repairable?
The supply of spare parts is only part of the problem. Repairing a broken product should be easier, more affordable and more encouraged than simply buying a new product.
This is where the designer comes in.
The repairability of a product is determined at the design stage, through :
- selection of materials
- the way the product is assembled,
- The tools needed for dismantling
- The use of sub-assemblies or modules
- the provision of clear and explicit instructions and manuals.
Below are 5 rules for initiating design for reparability:
1 - Design an engaging product!
A product that people become attached to, that they share long life moments with, that they pass on is the first step towards ensuring that the product will be repaired, rather than thrown away. Creating sentimental value has become a real challenge in a throwaway generation, but users are more likely to repair a product that is important to them.
Customers must value the product enough to decide that it is worth repairing rather than replacing. A user-centred design process that uncovers the user's needs and desires is essential for designing solutions that add real value to people's lives.
2 - Designing a demountable product
Designing a product that can be easily disassembled increases the chances of it being repaired. Ensure that any broken components can be identified, removed and replaced without special tools (better still, without tools at all!) and without damaging other components. Use removable fasteners rather than adhesives, standard screws rather than security screws, and design assemblies with clips so that they can be separated. The design of the product itself should clearly indicate how it can be dismantled. The parts most likely to fail should be the easiest to remove.
3 - Design a modular product (including sub-assemblies)
For products whose complexity prevents the replacement of each individual part, (such as in consumer electronics), considering a modular design may be the most appropriate solution. The ability to easily remove modules or sub-assemblies allows broken components to be replaced with minimal loss of parts. This approach can also help end-users to carry out repairs themselves where replacing an individual component would normally be difficult or dangerous and would require professional service.
4 - Writing a repair guide
As the voice of the user, designers can use their voice in the development team to ensure that effective repair documentation is provided with the product, or that customer support is provided (through an app, dematerialised instructions, e-learning, ...). Making these instructions accessible to all and easy to understand is key to educating users about repair. Communicating potentially complex repair processes must be treated as a design challenge in itself to make the repair guide as user-friendly as possible. As augmented reality technology opens up new avenues for communicating and performing repairs with digital graphics overlaid on the physical product, even a simple set of diagrams will help to extend the life of the product.
5 - Designing and running a REAL after-sales service
If repairing the product requires specialised skills or equipment, helping customers by offering a repair service is something that has been lost over time. Going beyond the provision of spare parts and taking responsibility for products beyond the point of purchase builds customer loyalty to the retailer and the brand!
To go further, product certification may be considered, in addition to the obligation soon to be required by the public authorities. The longtime label, for example, has defined a comprehensive set of specifications for labelling products in a way that is pragmatic and understandable to customers.
Vous souhaitez un accompagnement par des spécialisates de la conception de produits durables et réparables ? N’attendez pas que la loi vous impose l’indice de réparabilité. Nous sommes à votre écoute pour vos nouveaux projets !
Some interesting links:
Decree No. 2020-1757 of 29 December 2020 on the reparability index for electrical and electronic equipment
Order of 29 December 2020 on the display, signage and general parameters for calculating the reparability index
Tools, calculation rules and procedures for the display of the reparability index
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