THE RIGHT-TO-REPAIR MOVEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IMPLICATIONS: A FOCUS ON THREE INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

Abstract

While products get more challenging to repair, the right-to-repair movement aims to empower consumers in their ability to use, modify, and repair a device whenever, wherever, and however they want. Here, the best design practices and remaining challenges of three industrial sectors - namely, consumer electronics, biomedical devices, and clothing industry - are investigated in light of the right-to-repair movement. Based on literature reviews and industrial surveys, a SWOT analysis is provided for each sector, and sustainable implications for product repair readiness are drawn. Concretely, recommendations to design, develop and sell products with right-to-repair in mind are given by sector. Future directions for a more quantitative assessment and implementation of design for product repair are discussed to ensure the augmentation of the circularity and sustainability performance of products.