Repair scores can help fix big concern for people buying tech, appliances

Nobody walks into an electronics store looking to buy something that breaks and can’t be repaired or fixed.

But how do we know which products are designed to last?

Providing a repairability index has already proven valuable elsewhere. The United States could help American consumers by implementing their own. Colorado passed a resolution calling for repair scores in 2024, Oregon introduced a similar resolution this year and California could be next.

What’s a Right to Repair score?

Repair scores for technologies such as laptops, phones, and appliances provide consumers with a 1 through 10 rating that measures availability of spare parts, ease of disassembly and longevity of support.

This allows consumers to compare repairability across participating companies before they purchase expensive devices. It also supports market transparency.

How would it work? Look no further than the “Monroney sticker” for cars.

A sample of a Monroney label that allows consumers to compare vehiclesPhoto by NHTSA | Public Domain

Named after the U.S. senator who sponsored the bill requiring them, the Monroney sticker allows consumers to compare important things such as fuel economy/miles per gallon, engine and transmission specifications and crash test ratings.

How will a repair score save us money and protect the planet?

Products that are repairable and durable offer extra value.

On average, American households spend about $1,480 per year purchasing new electronic products and, on average, have 24 electronic devices in their homes.

Extending the life of our products is good for our wallets—repair could save Americans a total of $49.6 billion annually.

It’s also good for the planet since every new item consumes resources and may produce pollution in the production process. A single phone produces the planet-warming equivalent of 122.7 pounds of carbon dioxide about the same as burning 61 pounds of coal.

It also can reduce the amount of electronic waste we produce, which is important because the Environmental Protection Agency reports that electronic waste (e-waste) is now the fastest growing part of our domestic municipal waste stream.

That’s not good. E-waste is hard and expensive to recycle (less than 30% is recycled) and contains valuable materials that are wasted in landfills (some of which are also toxic and can get into our soil and water).

Increasing repairability is key to tackling these problems so we’re not constantly producing and then throwing away so much stuff.

Why should states call for a national repair score with a resolution?

While states have been leaders in the Right to Repair movement, developing a state-specific repair score system would face significant challenges.

Working with companies to develop the criteria for a repair score would be difficult for states to administer both because of the technical challenges and cost. In addition, if 50 different states developed 50 different scores, it could undermine comparability for consumers and place an undue burden on companies. However, reputable companies should be in favor of national repair scores, which don’t have different requirements for different locations. If their products receive good scores, those companies could use the high ratings as a marketing tool.

Why don’t companies just develop scores themselves?

Companies could create their own repair scores but given the wide range of factors they could use to determine repairability, unstandardized scores would make it hard for consumers to meaningfully compare while they shop.

Relying on consumer comments and feedback on websites would likely fall short too, without a common language to compare products.

Consistent repair score criteria would allow apples-to-apples comparisons, just like other successful labeling programs such as the “Monroney sticker.”

Advocates deliver support for Right to Repair to the FTC.Photo by Yazan Aboushi | TPIN

Who should develop this score?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the best agency to develop repair score criteria because:

• It is national
• It has the technical capacity and resources to work with companies to develop a fair rubric
• Repair scores fall under the agency’s congressional mandate

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can help the commission to develop the rubric based on other international repair scores.

Why is it important for states to support a repair score now?

States are leading the way on the right to repair, with legislation introduced in 49 states. State leaders can continue to lead with the next step toward a world with products designed to last: repair scores. By advocating for a national repair score system, states can promote sustainable consumer choices and reduce electronic waste.

With support from state lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups, we can send a powerful message to the FTC to work with companies to develop a repairability criteria that’s fair for both consumers and manufacturers to ensure transparency in the market.