What is the LONGTIME® certification?
LONGTIME® is the certification for products designed to last.
It gives you the assurance that products carrying the label are reliable and repairable, breaking with obsolescence.
A sign of reliability
LONGTIME® is a simple and effective guide for consumers that want to make financially and environmentally responsible purchases. The LONGTIME® logo identifies products that have been designed to last.
For robust objects
The LONGTIME® label applies to a wide range of products: household appliances, electronics, tools, leisure equipment and professional equipment. It assures that the product is robust, repairable and designed to last.
And for the planet
It is also a sign of recognition for manufacturers: it values companies that offer consumer goods with an extended lifespan and quality after-sales service, breaking with programmed obsolescence.
WHY CHOOSE THE LONGTIME® LABEL?
Acquire a reliable and repairable product
Make a purchase that will preserve your budget
Encourage more responsible consumption and move out of the disposable era
A TRUSTWORTHY AND DEMANDING LABEL
Specifications of 41 criteria for a global approach to durability
Independent control and impartial allocation to products that comply with the specifications
Durability experts analysing the products for you
By providing you with clearer information on the longevity/price ratio of a product, and on its repair possibilities, the LONGTIME® label allows you to make a smart and reasonable purchase.
A LABEL FOR PRODUCTS THAT LAST
The LONGTIME® label is applicable to all products around you. We offer you a non-exhaustive list, which will grow with your feedback.
DO-IT-YOURSELF AND GARDEN
- Garden furniture
- Plancha
LARGE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
- Hob
- Oven
- Café Restaurant Hotel equipment
- Pellet stove
- Electric heaters
- Solar energy solutions
LEISURE
- Suitcase
- Metal detector
- Kitchen utensils
- Office furniture
SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
- Culinary Robot
- Coffee bean machine
- Diffusor
- Juice Machines
- Blender
CHILDCARE
- Culinary preparation
- Babyphones
Here are the first products labelled LONGTIME®. By clicking on the product you will find the detailed description and access to the complete directory. And soon more products to join the listings!
A tool against programmed obsolescence
Have you ever bought a product just to throw it away as soon as it breaks down because you can’t find spare parts, or because the repair costs are too high and without a guarantee of duration? We have the solution for you!
By spotting the LONGTIME® logo, in shops or on the internet, you know immediately that the product has been designed to last, is robust, repairable and has efficient technical support.
Clear and 100% independent information to help you make the right choice, it changes everything!
Reliability
Repairability
Technical support
The guarantees of a sustainable product
A repairable product is good, but a repairable and reliable product is even better, because it is a durable product.
So the two essential ingredients of a durable product are:
- Reliability and robustness, it is the way the product is designed, the choice of materials, the fixing systems, the technologies used, the product’s upgradeability…
- Repairability, including dismountability, availability and price of spare parts, accessibility of information… Everything must be done to promote repair.
A durable product, as we understand it, must also offer technical support and quality guarantees. Knowing who to call in the event of a defect, where to drop off your product, where to get a replacement, documentation for proper maintenance…
LONGTIME® Certification FAQ
What is planned obsolescence?
Planned obsolescence is the deliberate reduction of the life and use of a product. This is a cynical attempt by some manufacturers to encourage consumers to buy new products. Particularly electrical and electronic devices. In France, planned obsolescence has been a criminal offence since 2015.
Not all manufacturers deliberately practise this method, but only some genuinely seek to extend the life of their products. LONGTIME® allows you to identify products that have been specially designed to last.
There is also cultural obsolescence, generated by marketing, which makes us want to replace a perfectly working product in order to buy a newer one! Now it is up to us to resist the temptation…
Don’t hesitate to read our page dedicated to programmed obsolescence for more details https://longtimelabel.com/obsolescence-programmee/
Are LONGTIME® labelled products more expensive?
Not necessarily! A balance must be struck between quality, price and product life. The label is there to guide consumers towards quality products.
The label is not awarded on the basis of price or brand awareness: a very expensive or well-known product is not necessarily more sustainable, depending on the design.
But there is still a basic principle: a robust machine is a machine that is renewed less often… the key to saving money over time!
The label incorporates households’ budgetary concerns, providing clearer information on the longevity/price ratio of products at the time of purchase, and reassuring them about the possibility of repair.
The LONGTIME® label belongs to whom? To brands? To stores?
LONGTIME® is an independent label, not dependent on brands or distributors.
It was developed by the Ethikis ad Civis cooperative, after 2 years’ work with environmental and consumer associations, repairers and manufacturers.
LONGTIME® defines demanding criteria in a set of specifications that are accessible to all, and is awarded to the product after an independent inspection. For all those reasons, LONGTIME® is synonymous with transparency and independence.
The LONGTIME® label, what do I need it for?
The LONGTIME® label is a clear and simple guide to help you choose the most reliable products on the market, breaking away from programmed obsolescence.
It saves you time at the time of purchase, because the presence of the LONGTIME® logo on the label immediately assures you of the longevity, robustness and repairability of the item.
By deciding to buy an appliance that will last longer, you’re not only saving money, you’re also helping the planet by reducing premature waste and wastage.
What is the value of the label?
By guiding consumers towards products that are robust, repairable and designed to last, the label helps to reduce the production of premature waste that is harmful to the environment. It is a benchmark for more responsible and durable consumption.
It recognises manufacturers who make an effort to extend the life of everyday objects, making them more robust and easier for consumers to repair. The label encourages manufacturers to change their production methods and help protect the environment.
The LONGTIME® label also promotes a whole new economy, one that is more responsible, more committed and less harmful: it supports the repair sector, an area of activity that is local and not easily relocated, and encourages the circular economy.
A LONGTIME® product never breaks down?
No false promises! A product bearing the LONGTIME® label can fail. The important thing is that you always have a solution from the manufacturer or its distributor, so that you can repair it and extend its service life.