Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's because this sort of legislation (in the UK and in the EU) is driven by superficial thinking and politics, not data-driven analysis and pragmatic considerations. People go " why don't they just make things simpler to repair? " like it was an obvious solution to problems (real or perceived) whereas the reality is obviously much more complex. Appliances are already quite durable and repairable. Making things 'mo…
> Making things 'more repairable' can increase cost and resources needed. I don't think this is in dispute, is it? The point is that manufacturers must now consider this cost in their calculations, rather than pass all the consequences on to the consumer without caring. > People do not necessarily want to repair a broken old device If the old device still has value, then both can happen - I can get a new device, and…
If this was the goal, then simply taxing fossil fuels and other polluting sources would be the ideal and simple solution. How high would the taxes need to be? However high it takes to get pollution levels down to where they need to be. The actual cost of a new item would be properly reflected in the price, and therefore incentivize the purchasing of reusable and repairable items, which would incentivize manufacturers making reusable and repairable items.
Of course, that would bring the world’s economy to a half, as governments’ expectations and calculations are assumed on continuously increasing consumption.