Consumers across Europe frequently find themselves confronted with the phrase “repair is too expensive.” High costs of spare parts and repairs continue to push people towards replacing products instead of fixing them, undermining repairability efforts and increasing waste. Research from Right to Repair Europe shows that when repair costs exceed 30% of the price of a new product, consumers overwhelmingly choose replacement.
Price differences undermine repair choices
Coalition research has revealed striking price variations for spare parts, with many components costing as much as or more than the original product. For example, batteries, motors or circuit boards often carry markups of 3x, leaving little financial room for repair. Independent repair technicians report that such prices make many appliances “too expensive to fix,” reinforcing a replacement culture.
EU legislation is moving slowly
While recent EU regulations reference “reasonable” and “non-discriminatory” prices for spare parts, clear criteria are missing. Without harmonised standards, the interpretation of what constitutes a fair price risks fragmentation across Member States, complicating enforcement and leaving consumers without protection. A horizontal approach under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) offers an opportunity to address this across product categories.
A coalition proposal for fair pricing
To overcome these challenges, a coalition of stakeholders has presented a white paper proposing two concrete measures. First, binding information requirements would oblige manufacturers to declare spare parts prices upfront and respect them across the EU, preventing hidden or inflated costs. Second, the inclusion of spare parts prices in repairability scores would give consumers transparent insight, ensuring that “repairable” products are also financially viable to fix.
The impact on circular economy
Fair spare parts pricing would extend product lifespans, reduce waste, strengthen small and medium enterprises in the repair sector, and support local jobs. Retailers such as Fnac Darty and Leroy Merlin, alongside the European Consumer Electronics Retail Council, already support this approach. With repair cost identified as the top barrier by studies from ADEME, Fnac and the Open Repair Alliance, policymakers face mounting pressure to take decisive action.
Looking ahead to EU deadlines
From July 2026, spare parts pricing obligations will apply to products under Ecodesign rules, followed by products with portable batteries in February 2027. Stakeholders argue that these measures must include strict commitments and harmonisation across Member States to make repair affordable and ensure Europe’s circular economy ambitions become reality.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
