Laetitia Vasseur, the association cofounder, already clarified in January 2021 that “while it is interesting to tackle planned obsolescence in France, we must above all extend product lifespan at the European level, taking into account the multinational firms and the single market context”.
Since its foundation in 2015, HOP has developed many partnerships with other European stakeholders, leveraging their policy instruments with the European Union institutions.
In 2019, everything gained momentum. One hundred and eighty other organizations from 30 European countries joined to create the Right to Repair coalition. This coalition is striving to make products available on the market repairable, thereby extending their lifespan.
HOP took a stand in support of the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan in June 2020. The association advocated for a number of requirements: improving consumer information, promoting better design and supporting repair. We have positioned ourselves as true experts supporting the European Commission’s work.
In November 2020, HOP launched a European white paper with 20 recommendations. The document aims to support the European Commission in implementing its repair and circular economy commitments. It includes the following recommendations:
- creating a repairability and durability index;
- approving ecodesign standards;
- strenghthening advertisement oversight;
European Right to Repair
In early 2024, the European Union approved the “Right to Repair” Directive to both preserve the environment and defend and support consumers. It’s a promising version, which has been established thanks to the Right to Repair campaign and to its active members’ advocacy efforts at the European Commission level. The coalition work has above all prevented any less ambitious version of this Right to Repair.
HOP, a direct stakeholder working with the European Commission
Following the release of a report and a petition on vehicle accelerated obsolescence, HOP called out the European Parliament in January 2025. The association has called for strict repairability and circularity rules in the future European End-of-Life Vehicles regulation, including securing access to spare parts and software updates, and a 20-year warranty for batteries.
For several years, HOP has been actively advocating for the establishment of a strict repairability index at the European level. HOP has been actively standing up for a smartphone and tablet index.
For the first time, HOP joined the new European Commission “Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Forum” in early 2025. As an acknowledged stakeholder, the association can share its recommendations with the consultation forum.
HOP’s work is two-fold:
- We are calling for minimum standards that ensure products available on the market can be repaired by consumers or through professional support at a reasonable price, even after several years. We are sharing the information needed with the European Commission for appropriate decision-making.
- We are calling for consumer information that is appropriate to address the challenges related to the European energy label, including making the durability index a requirement and clarifying the scoring system at the European level, including the price of spare parts.
