Our campaign-focused approach includes advocacy and awareness initiatives, as well as legal proceedings. We are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to tackle obsolescence and lay the foundations for a fair and sustainable future.
Progress in France
The HOP association has played a catalytic role in pioneering improvements in France. We have contributed to the development of several historic French laws:
- the law against waste and for a circular economy (Loi Anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire)
- the law for climate and resilience (Loi Climat et résilience)
- the law on the environmental footprint of the digital economy (Loi sur l’empreinte environnementale du numérique)
HOP’s action has led to the following improvements through these legal instruments:
- the adoption of repairability and durability indexes to improve consumer information;
- the implementation of a repair bonus, reducing repair costs;
- the requirement for making spare parts available for some products;
- a stricter definition of the planned obsolescence criminal offence to facilitate its enforcement;
- the banning of the disposal of unsold non-food products.
To promote a repair culture in France, HOP, in collaboration with Make.org foundation, organizes the National Repair Days (NRD). This annual event takes place on the International Repair Day in October. Every year, during the National Repair Days, tens of thousands of people gather across France to participate in more than 1,000 events.
Progress in Europe
We must act at the European and international levels to address multinationals’ impunity and meet the challenge of the circular economy.
Product lifespan is an issue which extends beyond French borders.
HOP is a member of the Right to Repair coalition. The association is also one of the stakeholders of the European Commission Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Forum.
HOP has contributed to the following policies:
- the European Parliament Right to Repair legislation on the universal right to repair;
- the circular economy package;
- the draft European battery regulation.
The association has also produced a European white paper entitled “Durable and repairable products: 20 steps to a sustainable Europe – HOP’s public policy guide to end premature obsolescence in the European Union”.
Legal Successes against planned obsolescence
HOP has filed four complaints against brands breaching the sustainability rules. Following a lawsuit and the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) investigation, Apple has been sentenced to a €25 million fine for misleading commercial practices by omission.
In 2022, HOP filed a new complaint against the corporation for “parts pairing”, alleging it constitutes a misleading commercial practice or latu senso planned obsolescence. Following the complaint, the Paris Public Prosecutor has opened an investigation.
The first trial on planned obsolescence will take place in France in 2027 against the manufacturer Epson, following a complaint filed by HOP.
