Planned obsolescence is a major challenge for the sustainable and efficient management of resources, anda major concern for the environment. To help improve this management and continue to promote the extension of product lifetimes, France and Europe are rolling out a new regulatory measure – the Durability Index.
Initially scheduled for 2024, the implementation of the French Sustainability Index has had to be reviewed following the recommendations of the European Commission, andcontrary to what was planned, smartphones and tablets will no longer be included in the French Sustainability Index.
From the reparability index to the durability index
Stemming from the AGEC law and initiated in 2021, the reparability index was a first step towards providing consumers with transparent data on the possibility of repairing the appliances they wish to purchase, in the event of breakdown.
LONGTIME® played a major role in the creation of the French Repairability Index. Its criteria include the availability of technical documentation, ease of disassembly, availability of spare parts, the cost of spare parts in relation to the price of a new product and specific measures according to product category. Unfortunately, the lack of weighting that we identified at the time contributed to a sometimes misleading index, but adjustments have been made.
What is the durability index?
The durability index is an evolution of the reparability index, designed to incorporate measures of robustness and reliability.
Initially, smartphones, televisions and washing machines were intended to be covered by this index. However, the European Commission has indicated that smartphones and tablets will be excluded from this index, due to the future European energy label, which will include a reparability index coupled with information on reliability (a European sustainability index).
This new French durability index can now be applied to televisions and washing machines. It will provide consumers with an assessment of the reliability and repairability of these two products, thanks to a rating from 1 to 10 accompanied by a colour code.
The aim of this measure is to enable buyers to make more informed choices by assessing the durability of the televisions and washing machines they are considering.
Why was a sustainability index created?
The short lifespan of electrical and electronic products is a major source of waste and pollution. Manufacturing a product necessarily has an impact on the environment at every stage of its life cycle.
For the same reasons, in 2017, the Ethikis ad Civis citizens’ cooperative decided to commit to promoting sustainable products and created the LONGTIME® Label.
We regularly talk about pollution from cars, planes and meat, but we all too often overlook the impact of our consumption and use of manufactured goods.
Are you in any doubt? To give you an idea, to amortise the impact of manufacturing a mobile phone, we would have to use it for 232 years!
Extending the life of products is a highly effective eco-design strategy. Choosing reliable goods and extending their lifespan by choosing to have them repaired is like giving up flying or reducing your meat purchases.
What are the differences between the reparability index and the durability index?
The reparability index was introduced to give consumers a clear idea of how easy it is to repair a product if it breaks down. This is a measure designed to encourage the repair rather than the replacement of appliances.
Repairability is not the same as durability. Durability is reliability + repairability.
This is an important concept to grasp.
Above all, consumers want reliable goods. A hoover, a blender or an electric oven may be repairable, but if they break down regularly, consumers will stop repairing them and buya new item.
The durability index therefore extends the reparability index by including robustness in the assessment. The aim is not only to check how easy it is to repair, but also the longevity and resistance of the goods to everyday wear and tear. In this way, you can obtain a more complete and nuanced assessment of the durability of the products you are considering buying.
Understanding programmed obsolescence
Planned obsolescence is a concept whereby manufacturers deliberately design products so that they cease to function or become obsolete after a certain period, thereby encouraging consumers to buy new ones. This practice has considerable environmental consequences, contributing in particular to the depletion of resources and the accumulation of technological waste, which is particularly difficult to recycle.
What are the durability index criteria?
As you will have gathered, this index combines the measurements of the old French government reparability index with new reliability-oriented evaluation indicators. The list of criteria will vary according to category, so for the time being, only the criteria for the TV sustainability index are known.
The 3 new criteria of the French Sustainability Index
Here are the 3 criteria that will be added to those of the reparability index to form the basis of the durability index.
Criterion 1: Resistance to stress and/or wear
Depending on the type of equipment, this criterion may refer to one or more durability tests (wear tests) carried out on the item or its main components.
It may also refer to sub-criteria relating to resistance to external stresses (corrosion).
Criterion 2: Maintenance and upkeep
It is commonly said that 50% of breakdowns can be avoided by observing the conditions of use and maintenance of the articles.
- Maintenance: This criterion is used to check the conditions under which the equipment and/or its major sub-assemblies can be maintained in a nominal functional state, including software functions.
- Maintenance: This criterion refers to the ability of the equipment or the main sub-parts of the equipment to be maintained in a functional state consistent with its intended use and the vendor ‘s description. Depending on the category of equipment, this includes the ease of access to information on maintenance procedures, the quality and level of detail of the information on maintenance procedures, and the ease with which maintenance procedures can be carried out.
Criterion 3: Sustainability guarantee and quality approach
This third criterion focuses on the warranty conditions offered by the manufacturer and its quality approach.
- Duration of commercial guarantee of durability sub-criterion: This sub-criterion involves noting the period of the commercial guarantee of durability (not to be confused with the Legal Guarantee of Conformity) that the producer or other marketer agrees to grant to the end user. Additional conditions for awarding points under this sub-criterion may be defined for each category of equipment.
- Sub-criterion Implementation ofa continuous improvement process: On the basis of a tangible documentation system, the producer must demonstrate its ability to implement a continuous improvement system. As part of this process, manufacturers are also being asked to monitor breakdown rates.
Sector criteria Material or functional improvements
These indicators are linked to equipment improvements, but only concern certain categories of item. These improvements will be assessed from two angles: hardware improvements and/or software improvements.
- Software improvement sub-criterion: This assesses the manufacturer’s ability to provide software improvements that enhance the functions or performance of the equipment.
- Hardware improvement sub-criterion: In this sub-chapter, the manufacturer assesses its ability to provide hardware improvements in order to increase the equipment’s capacities and performance, an existing function or to develop another function. If necessary, the hardware improvement also includes one or more software improvements specific to its integration.
How is the durability index score calculated?
The index score is the result of a multi-criteria evaluation. A calculation matrix in the form of an excel grid constructed by the government and in which the LONGTIME® label participated will be downloadable for each commodity covered by the index.
The exact method of calculation could vary, but it could involve weighting the different indicators according to their perceived importance in the overall durability of the product.
Each criterion is given a score, and aggregating them gives an overall score on a scale of 1 to 10, rounded to the nearest decimal place. A higher score will therefore normally indicate better durability.
Who checks the calculation of the reliability score?
The responsibility for calculation lies with the builders themselves, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the competent authorities.
In terms of allocation, there is no difference for the time being, since the index will be self-monitored. It is the manufacturer itself that calculates and communicates its score to distributors or customers. The DGCCRF (Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes – Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) may be called in or may carry out random checks on the calculation of
However, to ensure accuracy and transparency, it is desirable that verification be carried out by independent, accredited and trained third-party organisations or government agencies. An audit would ensure that manufacturers follow the guidelines accurately and honestly, reducing the risk of inflated or manipulated scores.
Verification could also include random testing of goods by third-party organisations to validate manufacturers’ claims about reliability and repairability.
What are the penalties associated with the durability index?
At this stage, there is no visibility in the event of a breach of the French government index. However, there is a good chance that the environmental display sanctions will be transposed to the index.
To date, any failure to comply with the index is punishable byan administrative fine of up to €3,000 for an individual and €15,000 for a legal entity (see Article 3 of the Climate and Resilience Act of August 2021).
These penalties are minimal compared to the competitive advantage that can be gained by displaying an index that is inflated in relation to reality.
Which products will be covered by the durability index?
sHere is the list of items for which the durability index is mandatory:
- Television
- Washing machines
The index is being applied to a small range of electrical and technological products for the time being, but the list of items covered should match the list of items covered by the reparability index.
Where can I find the grids used to calculate the durability index?
The calculation grids will be accessible at least on the websitehttps://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/. As with the reparability index grids, producers will be able to download a zip containing the matrices to be completed.
Sustainabilityindex: what are the benefits for consumers?
The sustainability index is part of a circular economy approach aimed at promoting the extension of the life of goods and reducing premature waste in order to improve the management and use of resources.
Consumers, how to read and interpret the sustainability index?
For consumers, this new index is a comparison tool to help them make informed choices when buying electronics and household appliances. Here’s how to read and interpret the index:
- Ratingscale: The durability index uses a rating scale from 1 to 10. The higher the score, the more reliable and repairable the product. A colour-coded system accompanies the rating, ranging from bright red for items that are not very durable to dark green for items that are reliable and easy to repair.
- Additional information: At the time of purchase, the seller should be able to provide the scoring grid used to determine the sustainability index, thus offering a more detailed overview of the product ‘s performance in each of the criteria assessed.
We recommend that you keep a close eye on the ratings and find out about the durability of the products you want to buy. The LONGTIME® certification experts draw up buying guides that will turn you into an expert in the blink of an eye!
Manufacturers, how can you prepare for the sustainability index?
For manufacturers, the durability index implies a revision of the calculations of the current scores linked to the reparability index.
As reliability is taken into account in the calculation matrices, scores may fall for products that are easy to repair but not very reliable.
Conversely, for items that are more reliable but less easy to repair, the scores could be revised upwards.
- Sustainable design
The lowest-rated manufacturers will have to quickly adopt design and production practices that promote durability, or risk seeing their market share fall rapidly.
LONGTIME®, through itsspecific support tools,can help manufacturers to improve their sustainability practices.
Would you like to know the differences between LONGTIME® and the durability index?
Conclusion: sustainability, the future of consumption in France and Europe.
The current environmental crisis and growing collective awareness are leading us to a major shift in the way we consume. Early expiry, once commonplace, is now being singled out and vigorously combated.
In France, initiatives such as the durability index and the LONGTIME® certification bear witness to a strong desire to move towards more responsible and sustainable production and use.
The LONGTIME® certification stands out in particular by offering a guarantee of reliability and reparability on a wide range of products. It enables customers to make informed choices and invest in products that are built to last. It also encourages manufacturers to rethink the design of their products in favour of durability and reparability. The LONGTIME® certification is a concrete response to the environmental challenges we face, promoting a circular economy and helping to reduce waste.
The durability index, although more restricted in its application, is also a step towards greater transparency and education on product durability. It is an information tool for customers and an incentive for manufacturers to improve the longevity of their products.