How to fight against programmed obsolescence? How can we prioritize the reuse and repair of products to preserve our resources? How can we mobilize the social and solidarity economy network? Proposals under consideration by the Government are unveiled this Monday, February 12 by Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister of State, Minister of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, during her visit to the Vienne. They are now subject to consultation.
"Acting to extend the lifespan of products means fighting against a double aberration, ecological and economic. I'm working to find concrete solutions to give French people the means to consume more responsibly and in a more budget-friendly way. » announced Brune Poirson in front of the Regratterie in Poitiers, a workshop where individuals come to give a second life to their used objects.
From its design to its distribution, the consumption of a product requires a considerable amount of resources and energy.
As an example, a 300g smartphone requires 70kg of natural resources to be extracted.
To reduce environmental impacts and waste production, the circular economy roadmap provides for two types of action: better consumer information and activating levers to extend the lifespan of everyday products.
The Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition today announced three key paths to achieve this:
- Extend product life
By posting a product life index by January 1, 2020.
This would be an index that could ideally also be taken to the European level and displayed alongside the energy label.
The information should be simple, easily understandable by the consumer and provide incentives to manufacturers. It would take into account about ten criteria giving a synthetic score out of 10.
- Recreating a network of repairers on the territory
By strengthening the offer of re-employment and reparation services to facilitate the use of their services by individuals, while strengthening the place of the social and solidarity economy within our economy.
- Improving consumer information
By creating an easy-to-access digital application (flash code on product labels) allowing consumers to compare labels, explain the main environmental impacts, provide information on traceability and eco-design of products.
France, through Brune Poirson, wants to lead the fight against planned obsolescence at the European level to make this information on the robustness of products an obligation.
Read the details of these proposals and give your opinion: https://www.consultation-economie-circulaire.gouv.fr/
This consultation on the Pre-Roadmap is online until 25 February..
