Starting September 27, retailers will be required to tell customers whether a product can be repaired and how long it can be used. That's according to Gabriela Rumenova from the "We, the Consumers" platform.
The goal, she said, is to reduce waste — buyers should know at the point of purchase whether an appliance can be recycled and whether it can be fixed if it breaks down.
Rumenova pointed to a problem many people run into. An appliance is technically repairable, but when the time comes, it turns out the manufacturer no longer supplies spare parts, having since released a newer model. The customer is left with a broken appliance they can't fix, even though they bought it with repairability in mind.
Under the new rules, that kind of surprise will no longer happen. Buyers will know in advance whether an appliance is repairable and can decide on the spot whether to purchase it or choose a different model, Rumenova explained.
The idea behind the change is to protect the environment, she said — encouraging repairs instead of simply replacing worn-out appliances with new ones.