The right-to-repair movement has been getting more press in the UK as laws protecting the consumer’s right to seek out independent repairs spreads across the United States.
The UK produces the second highest amount of e-waste per person in the world, just behind Norway. The United States comes in 6th according to the UN Global E-Waste Monitor, which refers to discarded appliances and electronics.
What’s happening in the US?
As of March 2025, all 50 states have now passed a law to protect a consumer’s ability to repair their products without going through the manufacturer.
Historically, manufacturers have quoted copyright law to demand exclusive repair rights, allowing them to sue independent repair companies and preventing consumers from seeking out lower cost alternatives.
What’s the situation in the UK?
The UK’s right-to-repair legislation came into effect from 2021. It required manufacturers to make spare parts available for electrical appliances within two years of all model launches. They’ll also have to be available for between seven and ten years after the model is discontinued.
The right to repair rules are designed to reduce e-waste and costs for the consumer by tackling built-in obsolescence and extending the lifespan of products.
The right-to-repair legislation has also promoted new start-ups in the repair market, as well as ‘repair networks’ seen growing across both countries. It’s a skills co-sharing initiative, rather than a charity, where people can take broken household items, and learn how to make them functional again.
What can the US learn from the UK?
In the UK, the goods included in the right-to-repair legislation included dishwashers, washing machines, washer-dryers, refrigeration appliances, and televisions. However, the legislation does not cover the repair of mobile phones, laptops, cookers, microwaves, hobs, or tumble dryers – these are some of the products that have the highest rate of product discard, as well as negative environmental impact from production.
Important to note for the US, the UK law does not regulate the price of repairs. There is nothing to stop individual companies from pricing spare parts too high to make repair feasible and instead encourage the purchase of a new product. Collating spare components together, so that consumers cannot replace parts individually, is also allowed under the law, further encouraging new purchases over repair. Manufacturers will continue to find ways of restricting independent repair. With pricing left unregulated, the UK’s right-to-repair legislation allows too many loopholes to have the impact it looked so close to promising.
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