Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
14
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
The UK Government must confirm that it intends to follow the approach taken by other countries to ban the practice of intentionally shortening the lifespan of products through planned obsolescence. (Paragraph 85) Conclusion
Government response AI summary
The government agrees there is no place for planned obsolescence and has existing and forthcoming policy measures, including recent consultation on Ecodesign Regulations, to increase product lifetimes and tackle premature obsolescence. They will also explore eco-modulation in WEEE regulations, but do not explicitly confirm they …
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16
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
To overcome this issue, we recommend that the Government require producers to label their electrical and electronic products outlining the product’s expected lifetime, including how long a device will receive software security upgrades. To enhance the label to be more informative, products that are particularly durable when compared to similar …
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To overcome this issue, we recommend that the Government require producers to label their electrical and electronic products outlining the product’s expected lifetime, including how long a device will receive software security upgrades. To enhance the label to be more informative, products that are particularly durable when compared to similar products in their categories should include a “durable” accreditation. This is a method undertaken in Austria. (Paragraph 93) Conclusion
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Government response AI summary
The government has consulted on draft Ecodesign Regulations covering consumer information and is committed to supporting greater durability and repairability. They also plan to explore and consult on applying eco-modulation to the WEEE system, but do not commit to mandating specific lifetime or software upgrade …
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18
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
We support this proposal and urge the Government to bring this forward with the aim of removing electronics with unduly short lives from the market. The expected lifetime label must be linked to the minimum lifespan guarantee. Particular attention must be paid to where the burden of proof lies between …
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We support this proposal and urge the Government to bring this forward with the aim of removing electronics with unduly short lives from the market. The expected lifetime label must be linked to the minimum lifespan guarantee. Particular attention must be paid to where the burden of proof lies between consumers and producers. (Paragraph 94) Conclusion
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Government response AI summary
The government shares the committee's desire to end planned obsolescence and promote product longevity. They refer to existing Ecodesign Regulations which address durability and repairability, and commit to exploring the application of eco-modulation in the WEEE system, which they will consult on as part of …
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19
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
The UK has a long history of engineering, and the public wants to be able repair their products. When products are designed, durability and repairability should be key considerations. The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare …
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The UK has a long history of engineering, and the public wants to be able repair their products. When products are designed, durability and repairability should be key considerations. The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare parts for products; and (3) ability to repair products without repairers needing access to physical or software tools specifically designed to be a barrier to independent servicing or repair. (Paragraph 109) Recommendation 11
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Government response AI summary
The government has consulted on draft Ecodesign Regulations which include requirements for information on repairs and sourcing, and is committed to supporting greater durability and repairability. They also plan to explore and consult on applying eco-modulation to the WEEE system to incentivize better ecodesign, but …
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20
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare parts for products; and (3) ability to repair products without repairers needing access to physical or software tools specifically designed to be a barrier to independent servicing or repair. …
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The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare parts for products; and (3) ability to repair products without repairers needing access to physical or software tools specifically designed to be a barrier to independent servicing or repair. (Paragraph 109) Recommendation 12
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Government response AI summary
The government has consulted on draft Ecodesign Regulations which include requirements for information on repairs and sourcing, and is committed to supporting greater durability and repairability. They also plan to explore and consult on applying eco-modulation to the WEEE system, but do not explicitly commit …
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22
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
The Government should mandate that products be labelled with a repairability score, based on the products design, the availability and cost of spare parts, access and ease of use of repair manuals. This will incentivise companies to go beyond the minimum requirements already established. Companies with better repairability scores should …
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The Government should mandate that products be labelled with a repairability score, based on the products design, the availability and cost of spare parts, access and ease of use of repair manuals. This will incentivise companies to go beyond the minimum requirements already established. Companies with better repairability scores should be rewarded with a reduction in modulated fees for their extended producer responsibility scheme contributions. (Paragraph 111) Conclusion
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Government response AI summary
The government has consulted on draft Ecodesign Regulations, which include requirements for repair information. They are committed to supporting greater durability and repairability, and will explore and consult on applying eco-modulation to the WEEE system to incentivize better ecodesign, but do not explicitly commit to …
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33
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste and the…
Accepted in Part
Clear targets for E-waste treatment facilities that are based on capturing value, including critical raw materials, and their environmental impact must be set. (Paragraph 133) Recommendation 21
Government response AI summary
The government states existing WEEE Regulations stipulate recycling rates and does not have explicit plans for further critical raw material targets. However, it will explore introducing product passports and waste tracking to enhance the recycling and extraction of high-value materials.
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