SBS annual conference will take place at EFTA house during the Meeting Standards week. This year’s conference marks a momentous occasion as our first in-person gathering since the pandemic.
Repair for SMEs Growth: Guiding SMEs through the Right to Repair Directive and Standards
As we navigate the landscape shaped by the new EU Right to Repair Directive and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products legislation, this event will delve into the opportunities and challenges that repairability presents for SMEs.
We will explore how standards can play a pivotal role in adopting repair-friendly practices while maintaining competitiveness and sustainability. Our discussions will cover the policy and legal context, the interplay with the Digital Product Passport, and the impact on the repair industry. We will engage with the Commission, Parliament, SME representatives and other stakeholders involved in standardisation and repair to explore strategies for empowering SMEs to meet repair requirements effectively.
Join us as we explore strategies to empower SMEs and foster a more sustainable economy.
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28 November 2024
EFTA HOUSE, Brussels
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1:30 pm –Registration & Gift bag / welcome coffee
2 – 2:45 pm – OPENING SESSION | Repair at the Heart of Europe’s Circular Economy
2:45 – 3:45 pm – PANEL 1 | Repairability under the Right to Repair Directive & Ecodesign Regulation
3:45 – 4:15 pm – COFFEE BREAK
4:15 – 5:15 pm – PANEL 2 | Standards in support of the uptake of repairability
5:15 pm – CLOSING REMARKS
5:30 – 7 pm – Networking Cocktail
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Register now here
The concept of repairability, from improving product design to improving the offer of repair services, is gaining momentum as consumers, policymakers, and industry leaders recognize its importance in promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and supporting local economies.
During 2024, two fundamental pieces of European legislation fostering repairability have been approved: the Right to Repair Directive and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Through these new pieces of legislation, the European Union aims to enhance consumer rights, promote sustainable product lifecycles, and reduce environmental impact. The European Commission stresses repairability is crucial for a circular economy, allowing products to have longer lifespans, thereby reducing waste and resource consumption.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the repair sector. In 2022, the EU repair sector included over 200,000 enterprises employing nearly 1 million persons. SMEs constitute around 70% of all enterprises within this sector. They generate about 50% of the total added value in the repair industry, making them a cornerstone of the European economy.
Standards are essential for promoting product repairability and facilitating repair-friendly practices. They ensure products are designed with repair in mind, spare parts and repair information are accessible, and consumers are aware of their repair rights. While their implementation poses challenges for SMEs, including access to data and repair technologies, financial resources, and personnel training, standards provide a framework of guidelines, specifications, and best practices that ensure consistency, interoperability, safety, and quality across repair processes. This allows repair shops, manufacturers, and consumers to communicate and cooperate effectively. The right to repair presents a significant opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses specializing in repair services to expand their markets. These SMEs, often closer to customers, are well-positioned to provide rapid and quality repair services.
SBS annual conference will focus on the opportunities and challenges that repairability brings to SMEs and discuss the role of standards in the adoption of repair-friendly practices. Through the presentation of SME case studies, the aim is to discuss the policy and legal context, standardisation activities, and developments in this area, and how they can support SMEs offering repair services adopting repair standards so that they remain competitive and sustainable. The links between repairability and environmental sustainability, health and safety will also be discussed.
What are the main challenges and opportunities for SMEs arising from the Right to Repair Directive? What will be the interplay with the Ecodesign Regulation and the Digital Product Passport? How can standards support the transformation of the repair industry and supply chain processes? Which conditions must be met to ensure SMEs can fully benefit from offering repair services and adopting repair standards?
What kind of measures do SMEs need to ease standards implementation? How can repairability support sustainability goals? How to make access to standards easier for SMEs?