Extending lifespan pays off
The report Extending lifespan pays off’, prepared by CE Delft for Natuur & Milieu, investigates the socio-economic and environmental impacts of national policies that promote repair and refurbishment of consumer electronics like smartphones.
Currently, only 1% of such devices are repaired in the Netherlands. The proposed policy package includes six measures: a mandatory share of refurbished products in retail, reduced VAT, a repair fund, reuse targets, a price cap on spare parts, and a repairability index.
Findings show that 800,000 additional smartphones could be repaired or refurbished annually, generating €35 million in added economic value, 400–550 new full-time jobs, and household savings of around €50 per year. Climate benefits include an estimated 2 Mt CO₂ reduction by 2030. The study stresses that implementing the full policy mix is most effective.
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