Cranfield University’s Director of Manufacturing, Professor Mark Jolly, has today welcomed the introduction of the 'right to repair’ law as an important step in creating a circular and more sustainable economy. Pointing to Cranfield research, Professor Jolly highlights the effectiveness of remanufactured laptops in comparison to new ones as an example of how repaired goods can be as effective as new ones.
Professor Mark Jolly, Director of Manufacturing at Cranfield University, said: “This law is a welcome step in creating a circular and more sustainable economy. Far too many products, particularly electrical ones, are simply discarded at what is assumed to be the end of their use life.
“Our own research into remanufactured laptops shows just how effective repairs can be with remanufactured models retaining around 95% of their original processing power. If businesses and consumers embraced a switch from new to remanufactured computers that would make a huge difference to the amount of electrical waste generated and also reduce the need for the mining of metals. The average PC is a lavish piece of work with copper from Chile, gold from Mali, iron ore from Brazil, nickel from the Congo, bauxite from Peru. Many components depend on rare earth or platinum group metals highlighted as under threat in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials listing.
“While the announcement of the ‘right to repair’ law is welcome we also need to see greater education of both the public and businesses that repaired and remanufactured doesn’t always mean a drop in quality or performance.”
