current issues in design for sustainability

The European Commission's 'Green Deal' will start to impact legal frameworks, including initiatives that will directly affect design. With the example of consumer electronics, new legislation is already being put in place that forces manufacturers to report on the repair-ability of their products, including how easily a device can be disassembled and the availability of repair manuals and spare parts. It is widely expected that this new legal framework will push manufacturers to improve their ratings by making the designs of their products more 'repair-able'.



On the same note, the scrutiny of the shelf-life of gadgets is now in effect in France. Here are two looks at how the new French legislation on repairability—the “indice de réparabilité” or repairability score—and how it will impact the market for electronics, specifically Apple. Starting in January 2022, this colour-coded anti-waste law rates products according to their sustainability as part of a system “designed to keep shoppers abreast of the lifespan of their electronics to encourage them to choose longer-lasting items.” With 77% of those surveyed saying they would rather repair than replace, and fines for non-compliance expected to be introduced as part of the law, the looming threat of E-waste (which could grow to 52 million tonnes by the end of 2021) proposes a regenerative solution through ‘repairability reform’. Will such movements slow down the release of toxic metals (like arsenic which is issued from smartphones) from landing in dumpsites?