In Europe, right to repair laws are ensuring that customers don’t have to buy new goods when something breaks 一 saving them money and reducing waste. Many environmentalists and consumer advocates are urging the US and other countries to adopt similar measures, and want companies to step up to make goods that are not only durable but also easy to fix. Among these advocates is Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.
Wozniak spoke on the issue during an appearance on Cameo, saying, “We wouldn’t have had an Apple had I not grown up in a very open technology world.” He notes that in the early days of tech development, every product came with a detailed map of its components so part sourcing and replacements were far easier. Taking apart simple devices like radios is how Wozniak became so tech-savvy in the first place.
Right-to-repair laws include not only open-source guides on how to repair goods but also manufacturing that prioritizes repair over replacement. Using parts that can be individually replaced and allowing non-company sites to repair those goods goes a long way in reducing waste and ending the modern production culture of planned obsolescence.
