Today’s Treasure, Tomorrow’s Trash
All sorts of electrical and electronic products/are being sold today.// We keep buying them,/while dumping old ones.// The consequence of this trend is ever-increasing e-waste,/which is damaging the environment.// How do we deal with this problem?//
　　In this consumer society we live in,/new products are introduced into the market every day.// A certain high-tech company in the US/shipped so many new tablet computers in 2020/that if they were all laid flat and stacked,/they would be as tall as 862 Empire State Buildings.//
　　This is a magnificent accomplishment/on the part of the manufacturer.// But if you look at the other side of the coin,/you may have a different idea.// A UN study reports/that about 53.6 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide/in 2019.// The amount of global e-waste/is expected to increase to 74 million tons by 2030.// The negative impact of e-waste on the environment/is quite serious.// E-waste is often highly toxic,/leaking heavy metals and dangerous chemicals/into the soil around landfills,/and emitting greenhouse gases and mercury/when burned.//


Factors behind E-waste//
　　A recent study/by the Federal Environment Agency in Germany/tried to uncover the factors/which brought about the present situation.// The findings suggest/that the lifespan of household appliances is getting shorter.// This is partly because consumers are demanding better products.// A third of all replacement purchases for household appliances/were motivated simply by desire for a better unit/while the old one still worked fine.// That proportion rose to 60 percent/when it came to televisions.// Old ones are replaced as outdated/even if they are still perfectly usable.//
　　More importantly,/the study reveals another concerning problem.// The results show/that the proportion of large household appliances/that needed to be replaced within five years of purchase/due to a defect/grew from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 8.3 percent in 2012.// The agency described that rise as “remarkable.”// Although the study has not provided any conclusive proof,/it speculates that manufacturers intentionally shorten the lives of products/to boost sales/—a strategy often referred to as “planned obsolescence.”// This simply means/to design a product with an intentionally limited lifespan.//


Coping with “Planned Obsolescence”//
　　Is there anything we can do/to cope with planned obsolescence?// One thing we can do/is to repair and keep using our electrical and electronic devices/for as long as possible.// When products break,/we can either repair them by ourselves,/or have them repaired by the shop/where we bought them.// The longer we can use them,/the less impact they will have on the environment.// We can extend the life of our devices,/save money,/and reduce the burden of the many gadgets/that have turned into the world’s junk.// Furthermore,/we can reduce the amount of waste and greenhouse gas emissions/associated with the production of new products.//
　　In recent years,/however,/a new way to make products obsolete/is on the rise:/“repair prevention.”// Now it is getting more and more difficult/for individuals and repair shops/to troubleshoot electrical and electronic devices.// This is partly because devices have become more complex,/but it is partly by design.// Manufacturers are limiting access to repair information/to authorized service centers,/leaving private repairers unable to deal with even simple problems.// Some companies also refuse to provide repair manuals.// Thus,/it’s just easier and sometimes cheaper/to buy something new.//
　　Obviously,/companies have an incentive/to make it difficult to repair their products.// If they can control the repairs,/they can make money.// The profit is increased/because companies with a monopoly on repair/can set prices higher than the market would otherwise bear.// The result:/more and more e-waste is being dumped into landfills.//


“Right to Repair”//
　　So,/what should we do?// A new and powerful approach to this problem/is a movement to protect the “right to repair,”/which is gaining momentum in the US and Europe.// This movement aims to force manufacturers of electrical and electronic products/to recognize the right of consumers and technicians/to obtain information necessary for repairs/and perform repairs on their own.//
　　The right-to-repair campaign/is gaining ground in the UK and EU.// In the UK,/a new law will require manufacturers/to provide spare parts for their products to consumers/for the first time.// The goal is to protect consumers/and reduce environmental impact/at the same time.// The UK government claims/that this will reduce e-waste by 1.5 million tons each year,/as well as carbon dioxide emissions.//
　　In the EU,/the first eco-design regulations/that set standards for repair/have come into effect.// This means/that manufacturers of washing machines,/dishwashers,/refrigerators, etc./have to ensure that customers can replace components/using easily obtainable tools.// The French government has set the goal/of making 60 percent of electrical and electronic devices in France repairable/by 2026.//
　　Furthermore,/in the US,/about 20 states have already filed right-to-repair bills.// It is expected that other states will follow suit.// However,/some of the big companies/are lobbying against the legislation,/making it difficult for the government/to push the new laws through.//
“Owner Society”//
　　In a “consumer society”/where people continue to consume disposable products,/ecological destruction is inevitable.// On the other hand,/in an “owner society”/where products are cherished and repaired,/companies and consumers can move/toward reducing the burden on the environment/by sharing responsibility.//
　　Which society do you want to live in:/a “consumer society”/or an “owner society”?// Your choice may determine the long-term fate/of this planet.//