Right to Repair EU legislation: What you need to know

1. What is the Right to Repair?
2. The challenge: Turning obligation into opportunity
4. Right to Repair compliance action checklist
The takeaway: Repair is the future of customer loyalty
Ready to learn more about Right to Repair?

For decades, the relationship between brands and customers ended at checkout. Once a product broke, the path forward was simple: buy a new one. But that model is changing.

The EU's Right to Repair legislation, coming into force on July 31, 2026, is reshaping ecommerce. For manufacturers and retailers, compliance is only one of the boxes to check. In fact, they should rethink how products are designed, sold, and supported throughout their entire lifecycle. When done right, it represents a significant opportunity to build deeper customer relationships and stand out in an increasingly crowded market. The question isn't whether your business will be affected. It's whether you'll be ready to turn these obligations into opportunities.

TL;DR:

Know your obligations: The Right to Repair mandates longer warranties, greater availability of spare parts, and easier access to repair services for specific product categories, including electronics and appliances. Repairs must be offered free or at reasonable cost within warranty periods and beyond.
See the opportunity: Repair services can drive customer loyalty, reduce returns, and position your brand as sustainable and customer-centric. An extended warranty of at least 12 months applies to repaired goods.
Integrate repair into your strategy: From product design to post-purchase experiences, repair readiness needs to be integrated across the customer journey, including training staff and ensuring spare parts availability for up to 10 years.
Partner with experts: Leverage technologies like returns management, AI diagnostics, and circular commerce platforms to comply efficiently and elevate customer experience.

1. What is the Right to Repair?

The EU's Right to Repair legislation aims to extend product lifespans, reduce waste, and empower consumers to fix rather than replace. It requires manufacturers and retailers to design repairable products and provide consumers with access to spare parts, repair manuals, and professional repair services. c

Retailers will need to rethink sourcing, supplier engagement, and customer service, as post-purchase support becomes a compliance and brand success factor. Manufacturers must also ensure repair services are provided within reasonable timeframes and may offer refurbished products if repair is not possible.

2. The challenge: Turning obligation into opportunity

Complying with longer warranties, managing spare parts inventories, and setting up repair services requires investment and operational changes. However, this challenge opens a door to building stronger customer connections. Helping customers repair beloved products fosters trust, shows brand commitment, and creates meaningful engagement moments.

Brands that view repair as a cost center risk falling behind. Those who embed repairability into their brand story and customer experience, however, will drive loyalty and capture sustainability-minded shoppers. Customers increasingly prefer sustainable consumption, positioning repair as a growth lever for businesses.

Forward-looking retailers are leveraging the directive as a way to differentiate themselves. There are many ways you can strengthen brand value:

Building repair-ready product lines
Collaborating with circular commerce platforms
Providing transparent, customer-friendly repair experiences

Technology is a key enabler. AI-driven troubleshooting, integrated repair service platforms, and streamlined returns management transform what might seem like a regulatory burden into a seamless customer experience upgrade.

4. Right to Repair compliance action checklist

The compliance deadline of July 31, 2026, is approaching quickly.Waiting too long risks missing a strategic opportunity and falling behind competitors.

1. Understand regulatory requirements

Review the full EU Right to Repair Directive to identify affected product categories and key obligations.
Map obligations such as extended warranties (12 months post-repair), spare parts availability, and repair accessibility.
Check local implementations of the directive within your markets.

2. Audit product portfolio

Identify products subject to Right to Repair (e.g., washing machines, fridges, smartphones).
Assess current warranty and repair support policies.

3. Engage suppliers and manufacturers

Ensure suppliers commit to repairability standards—spare parts availability for up to 10 years and provision of repair manuals.
Confirm contractual terms are updated for compliance.

4. Build repair infrastructure

Set up or partner with repair service providers, ensuring timely, affordable, and accessible repairs.
Train customer service teams on repair policies and warranty guidance.
Implement systems for refurbishment or replacement when repairs are impossible.

5. Document and monitor compliance

Keep records on spare parts stock, repair agreements, and warranty extensions.
Periodically audit for adherence to evolving regulations.

6. Leverage technology solutions

Utilize returns management and AI diagnostic tools to streamline repair operations.
Explore circular commerce platforms to support sustainability and compliance while creating a new revenue stream from reselling refurbished products.

The takeaway: Repair is the future of customer loyalty

Right to Repair marks a fundamental shift in product ownership, brand relationships, and ecommerce business models.

The brands that thrive in this new landscape won't see repair as an obligation. They'll see it as an opportunity to show their values, serve customers better, and build genuinely sustainable business models.

Ecommerce success now means keeping customers for the product lifecycle, not just the initial sale.