Europe calls for the introduction of a repairability index

Millions of European citizens use more than one electronic device in their daily lives, manufactured in Asia and America. Repairing them is often a complex and costly process, which led the European Parliament to approve proposals for manufacturers to make them easier to repair and introduce special labelling similar to iFixit's scoring system.

Among the approved proposals are an automatic warranty extension if repairs take longer than a month, lower prices for essential spare parts and the option for users to choose an independent repairer. Particular attention is given to batteries, specifically the use of removable rather than permanently installed batteries in mobile phones, so that replacing them can extend the lifespan of smartphones.

In addition, the European Parliament asked manufacturers to provide certification for each product based on iFixit's «repairability score», which would state its lifespan, environmental credentials and upgradeability. This initiative aims both to protect the environment, as making devices easier to repair encourages users not to throw away products they can easily fix, and to boost the European market so that it is less dependent on Asian and American technology giants.