The European Parliament has drafted new legislation with the aim of offering better product labeling in the EU and limiting misleading product characteristics, environmental claims and restrictions on reparability.
The directive will target the use of unsubstantiated environmental claims on packaging and advertisements such as ‘climate-neutral’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ by manufacturers if these are not supported by detailed evidence. The draft legislation also provides for clear labeling for the cost of product repairs and any potential restrictions on repairs by manufacturers.
The industry will no longer profit from the production of consumer goods that fail after the warranty period is over. Consumers should be given clear information about repair options and costs.
Product labels will inform citizens which goods are guaranteed to last longer, and producers whose goods are more durable will benefit. The jungle of false environmental claims will end as only certified and proven eco-claims will be allowed. – Biljana Borzan, VC of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
The aim of the new directive is to help consumers make more informed purchases and encourage companies to offer verifiably more sustainable products. The European Parliament also wants to ban misleading claims such as battery life, planned obsolescence and design features that limit a product’s life cycle.
The accompanying press release also mentions that the new law will mandate interoperability with third-party accessories such as chargers and spare parts to work with the devices and not limit their functionality. With the draft already approved, negotiations between the European Parliament and EU member countries will soon begin.
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