You have to say “no” to the so-called ecopostureo. That is the conclusion reached by the European Parliament, which this Thursday approved with 544 votes in favour, 18 against and 17 abstentions, the proposal for a new directive that will give consumers greater decision-making power during the ecological transition. The objective is that the products are not made to limit their useful life and in this way work on more durable and sustainable products, as has been discussed in the European Parliament during the Strasbourg plenary session.

With this step, the European Parliament wants “environmentally friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “ecological” to be slogans that are only used if there is a scientific basis for it.

“The industry is going to stop profiting from making things break as soon as the warranty period ends. Consumers will have to receive clear information about the possibilities to repair and the cost of these repairs,” explained the rapporteur for the text, the Social Democrat Biljana Borzan.. The labeling of the products will also indicate “which ones are guaranteed for the longest time, and those manufacturers whose products are more durable will win,” he added.

In this way, defends the MEP, “the jungle of claims about supposed environmental benefits will disappear, since only certified and well-founded claims will be allowed”. In conclusion, the European Parliament is in favor of “only using ecolabels that have official certification systems behind them or those backed by the Administration”.

The jungle of claims about supposed environmental benefits will disappear

On the other hand, Parliament rejects that products “are designed with characteristics that reduce their useful life from the outset or cause premature malfunction”. In addition, MEPs want to prohibit manufacturers from limiting the performance of a product when used with consumables, spare parts or accessories (such as chargers or ink cartridges) made by other companies.

To encourage the purchase of more durable and repairable products, consumers must first know if and how they can be repaired.. The European Parliament proposes adding a new labeling in relation to the guarantee, “indicating not only the duration of the mandatory legal guarantee but also that of the possible extensions offered by the manufacturers”. Such labeling would highlight quality products, and “would be an incentive for companies to offer durability”, according to the MEPs.