Nyhed
New Alliance Aims to Extend the Lifespan of Electronics in Denmark
Nyhed
New Alliance Aims to Extend the Lifespan of Electronics in Denmark
By Susanne Togeby AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Environmental Strategy Annual Meeting
A new Danish alliance aims to make repairing electronics more affordable and attractive than replacing them. The alliance will be built on collaboration between universities, manufacturers, retailers, municipalities, waste management companies, and NGOs in Denmark.
The alliance seeks to make it easier and cheaper for consumers to repair their products while providing better information on product durability and repairability. Inspired by international examples such as the French durability and repairability index, the alliance aims to promote similar initiatives in Denmark. At the same time, efforts will be strengthened across borders to create a greater impact.
The alliance can help ensure that the EU’s regulations on product lifespan are properly implemented in Denmark.
Associate Professor Michael Søgaard Jørgensen from the Department of Sustainability and Planning represents Aalborg University in the upcoming alliance. He states:
"The alliance can help ensure that the EU’s regulations on product lifespan are properly implemented in Denmark. At the same time, we can draw inspiration from France and Sweden, where they already have experience with providing subsidies for repairs. Additionally, the alliance can highlight the experiences of waste management companies and municipalities in supporting repair and reuse, despite Danish legislation making it difficult."
According to Michael Søgaard Jørgensen, there are many restrictions on what municipalities and waste management companies can do once products have been discarded and classified as waste—they are not allowed to carry out repairs themselves. Instead, municipalities and waste management companies play a more supportive role in promoting repair and reuse, for example, by providing space at recycling centers. Finding solutions requires both creativity and knowledge-sharing.
The Alliance Can Make It Easier for Consumers to Choose Durable Electronic Products
The alliance can play a key role in making it easier for consumers to choose durable electronic products by promoting initiatives such as:
- Introducing a label for electronics indicating an index for durability and repairability.
- Encouraging manufacturers to improve product longevity.
- Providing better consumer information on product durability.
- Ensuring that the least durable and least repairable products are phased out of the market.
Aalborg University's Role in the Alliance
The initiative to form the alliance stems from a conference held at Aalborg University on February 25-26, 2025. Aalborg University contributes with research on circular economy and product lifespan, focusing on:
- Studies of consumer behavior – to understand how people perceive and engage with repair and reuse.
- Analysis of EU regulations – to identify how legislation supports or hinders longer product lifespans.
- Collaboration with Repair Café Denmark – to gather insights from their experience in providing citizens with easy and free access to repair services through volunteer initiatives.
Translated by Emma Holtegaard Hansen