The Canadian government has announced its commitment to improving Canadians’ ability to repair products such as household appliances and consumer electronics through a new consultation.
The consultation will serve to gather citizen feedback to support the development of a federal policy approach to the right to repair or repairability in Canada. The focus will be on sustainability, usability and interoperability.
The initiative was launched by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Steven Guilbeault, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. The goal is to give consumers more choice and information about repair options for products they purchase from retailers.
If Canadians can more easily repair products like washing machines and cell phones, they won’t have to purchase expensive replacements. In addition, less waste ends up in the landfill.
Feedback for the consultation can be submitted online until 26 September 2024.
Champagne noted, “Canadian consumers expect their digital devices and home appliances to be durable and repairable.”
Guilbeault added: “We need to rethink how we produce and consume products to keep them in the economy and out of the landfill for as long as possible. By throwing away fewer devices and appliances, we use our resources more wisely and efficiently, while we reduce pollution and protect our environment.”
Laws have been introduced worldwide that guarantee the right to repair. In Europe, manufacturers are legally obliged to supply spare parts for a maximum of ten years.
Retailers and manufacturers could strategically adjust the prices of new products to mitigate their foreseeable profit losses as a result of right to repair legislation, the Harvard Business Review.
“Canadian government launches right-to-repair consultation” was originally created and published by Retail Insight Networka brand owned by GlobalData.
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