In the race towards a more circular economy, the European Union is no longer content with recommendations: it is imposing clear rules. Among the pillars of this transformation, two stand out clearly: the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and the right to repair. Far from being mere concepts to be followed “one day,” they constitute concrete obligations that French companies must implement now.
The goal: to reduce the environmental impact of products, extend their lifespan, and give consumers the means to act. But this cannot be done without rapid mobilization of industrial players, particularly in the sectors of household appliances, electronics, and furniture.
The Right to Repair: a European priority become reality
Adopted as part of the European Green Deal, the right to repair is now a legislative reality. It is no longer just an ecological trend, but a binding legal framework aimed at rebalancing the relationships between manufacturers, repairers, and consumers.
The new rules impose, among other things:
- The mandatory availability of spare parts for several years,
- A facilitated access to repair manuals and diagnostic tools,
- The obligation to offer repairs even after the end of the legal warranty,
- The implementation of a repairability index, soon to be extended to new products.
For companies, this means rethinking their after-sales service models, their supply chain, and their customer relations. Failing to anticipate these changes means risking being late… and penalized.
The Digital Product Passport: a digital tool for transparency
Still widely unknown, the DPP will nevertheless become mandatory for many product categories in the coming years. It is a digital file attached to each product throughout its life, accessible via a QR code or a unique identifier.
This passport will contain:
- The materials and substances present in the product,
- Maintenance and repair instructions,
- The availability of spare parts,
- The history of repairs and updates,
- Data on the recyclability and end-of-life of the product.
The DPP will not be a simple digital label. It will become an imposed, interoperable standard, shared on a European scale. Its deployment requires adapted digital infrastructures, rigorous organization of product data, and integrated business tools.
An essential combination for an effective circular economy
What the right to repair requires, the DPP makes possible. What the DPP makes visible, the right to repair can turn into a means for action. Together, they form a powerful duo in the service of sustainability:
- The DPP provides repairers, resellers, and consumers with reliable and standardized information.
- The right to repair allows these data to be used to take concrete action: repair, maintain, reuse.
It is by combining these two approaches that we move from a disposable economy to a high-performing and traceable circular economy.
French Companies: it’s time to take action
Failing to anticipate these new rules means risking:
- Regulatory non-compliance in the coming months,
- Loss of competitivity with rapidly adapting European actors,
- Commercial lag towards increasingly demanding consumers.
This is not a long-term transformation: it must be undertaken now. Integrate DPP data into your products, adapt your after-sales processes to repairability, train your teams, choose digital partners capable of supporting you…
Act today to avoid enduring tomorrow
At Agoragroup, we are already working with manufacturers, repairers, and distributors to facilitate this transition. Thanks to connected after-sales management solutions, compatible with DPP requirements and sustainable repair practices, we help our clients stay ahead.
The regulatory shift has begun. The choice is no longer whether companies need to adapt, but when. And the answer is obvious: now!
Emmanuel Benoit, CEO of Agoragroup.