Since Friday 4 November, four new product categories have been affected by the repairability index. We take stock.
Almost three years after the appearance of the repairability index, this label extends to new products. As UFC Que Choisir reports, these are four new categories of products that will have to self-assess since Friday, November 4 as to the ease of repairing them.
In concrete terms, these four types of products are all related to household appliances, and not to traditional consumer electronics. We will thus find:
- Top loading washing machines
- Dishwashers
- High pressure cleaners
- vacuum cleaners
While door-loading washing machines have already been affected by the repairability index since January 2021, it is therefore the second type of product that will now benefit from it. On the side of high pressure cleaners, the index this time concerns devices using high pressure water used to clean a car or a terrace, such as those from Kärcher. Finally, for vacuum cleaners, both canister vacuum cleaners with or without cord are concerned, as well as stick vacuum cleaners or robot vacuum cleaners.
Five criteria taken into account by manufacturers
Remember that, since January 1, 2021, the repairability index must be attached to smartphones, laptops, televisions, porthole washing machines and lawnmowers. These are five criteria that must be taken into account by the manufacturer when deciding on the repairability index of its products: the documentation available, the ease of dismantling, the availability of spare parts, the price and any specific criteria. , depending on the product category. For example, for vacuum cleaners, the manufacturer will have to assess the accessibility of the usage counter, free remote assistance and the possibility of resetting the device to factory settings.
Remember, however, that the repairability index must be set by the manufacturer himself. A system that is therefore not flawless. Indeed, the HOP association denounced, last March, overvalued ratings from manufacturers, without any control on the part of the State. According to the association, manufacturers would be reluctant to allocate too low an index and the current grid would tend to favor good grades.
The repairability index in France aims to strengthen consumer purchasing power and fight against the environmental impact of high-tech products such as smartphones, PCs and TVs. We explain how it is calculated, its limits,…
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