To reduce the environmental impact and resource waste caused by electronic waste, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) plans to launch an "Electronic Product Repairability Index," modeled after the French "Repairability Index System." Starting next month, the EPA will pilot the index with mobile phone and laptop manufacturers. The index will provide consumers with comprehensive information and empower them to make sustainable purchasing decisions. The EPA held its first briefing today (the 26th), with participation from nearly 20 mobile phone and laptop brands, including Apple, Samsung, ASUS, and ACER.
The Right to Repair movement is gaining momentum in Taiwan; the Environmental Protection Agency has launched a "Repairability Index."
As electronic products become increasingly difficult to repair after damage, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has developed the "Guidelines for Promoting an Electronic Product Repairability Index," drawing inspiration from the French Repairability Index system implemented in 2021. Wang Yuebin, Executive Secretary of the EPA's Recycling Foundation Management Committee, noted that promoting the Repairability Index will help consumers regain their "right to repair," extend product lifespans, and promote the development of a local repair industry, maximizing the value of resources.
The EPA explained that the French Repairability Index applies to 13 electrical and electronic products, including mobile phones, laptops, and televisions, requiring manufacturers and importers to disclose their repairability index self-assessment results. Furthermore, the European Union also published a draft of the Sustainable Product Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR) in 2022, which will disclose repairability scores through a digital product passport system.
To gradually improve the content of the guidelines, the Environmental Protection Agency will launch a pilot program in June, giving priority to inviting voluntary mobile phone or laptop manufacturers to conduct trial scoring and cooperate with the score verification process. The product scoring results will be publicly disclosed in October to first enhance public awareness and then determine whether the results will be included in the law.
Lü Qiaoling, project leader of the Green Energy Institute of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, explained that the maximum score for the repairability index is 10, with a higher score indicating an easier repair. The scoring criteria include five factors: provision of technical documentation, disassembly steps or tools and fastening characteristics, availability of spare parts, spare parts prices, and specific standards.
Better design means less maintenance required. Environmental Protection Department: Continuing research on durability.
Well-known mobile phone brands attended the first briefing today. Apple representative Yang Jianming suggested that the more durable a product design is, the less likely it is to need repair or disposal. The repairability index has its limitations, and China should directly align itself with the EU's proposed "durability index." Wang Yuebin stated that repairability is also an indicator of durability, and that the EU's durability index has yet to be formalized. Research will continue, aiming to align with international standards as soon as possible.
A Samsung representative pointed out that since genuine parts are only available to authorized repair centers, self-repair will void the product warranty. Furthermore, consumers disassembling the product themselves could cause injury, such as broken glass. Lü Qiaoling stated that the right to repair initiative is an international trend, emphasizing that consumers should have the right to repair their own electronic products. If adequate safety instructions are provided, manufacturers can be exempted from accidents caused by improper disassembly.
An HTC representative surnamed Chen expressed concern that France does not require an audit, while Taiwan does, leading to discrepancies in scores for identical products. Wang Yuebin responded that the Environmental Protection Administration and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) began their investigation in 2022, and that the guidelines have been localized, with some minor differences from France. Furthermore, given regional differences in accessory acquisition times, the discrepancies in scores are normal.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/236854)
