French Repairability Index: How It Works

The repairability index now accompanies a share of the electrical and electronic appliances sold in France, with the goal of informing buyers about how easy a product is to repair before they purchase it. Displayed both in stores and online, it takes the form of a score out of 10 calculated from precise criteria, and covers clearly defined product categories. Here is how it works, how it is calculated, and where to find it.

What the repairability index is

The repairability index is a score out of 10 that tells consumers how repairable a new electrical or electronic product is. It stems from France’s anti-waste law for a circular economy of 10 February 2020, and its display has been mandatory since 1 January 2021 for certain product categories.

The goal is twofold: steer consumer purchases toward appliances that are easier to repair, and push manufacturers to design products that last longer. The index is part of a broader fight against planned obsolescence, aiming to reduce the number of appliances discarded prematurely.

The index applies exclusively to new products placed on the market. The calculation is carried out by the manufacturer or importer for each model, then passed on to distributors, who must communicate it to consumers at the point of sale. For a household, comparing this index between two equivalent models before buying makes it possible to anticipate the cost of upkeep over several years, well beyond the price tag alone.

Which products carry a repairability index

The repairability index does not cover every household appliance or electronic device. Since it came into force, it has applied to specific product categories, and that list keeps evolving as the durability index takes over for certain appliances.

This gradual shift explains why two appliances in the same home can carry different indicators: a dishwasher still carries the classic repairability index, while a more recently bought washing machine now carries a durability index instead.

How the repairability index is calculated

The calculation rests on five criteria, each scored separately before being combined into the final score out of 10.

• Technical documentation: the manufacturer’s commitment to make repair documents freely available for a set number of years.
• Disassembly: how easy the appliance is to take apart, the type of tools required, and the characteristics of the fasteners between parts.
• Spare parts availability: how long the manufacturer commits to supplying spare parts, and the delivery time for those parts.
• Spare parts price: the ratio between the sale price of spare parts and the price of the new appliance.
• Category-specific criteria: sub-criteria specific to each product category, for example the presence of wear counters on certain appliances.

Each criterion is scored separately, then weighted according to calculation grids specific to each product category, designed to reflect the technical particularities of a dishwasher, a vacuum cleaner or a laptop. The manufacturer must keep supporting evidence for this calculation and be able to present it to the relevant authorities during an inspection, which guarantees the accuracy of the score shown to consumers.

How to read the score and the colour code

The final score, ranging from 0 to 10, comes with a colour code that allows a quick read, even for a consumer in a hurry in the aisle:

An appliance scoring 7 or above generally has good spare parts availability and is relatively easy to disassemble for a repairer or a handy homeowner. Conversely, a score below 4 often signals parts that are hard to obtain or disassembly that requires specific tools, which complicates a potential appliance repair.

Where the repairability index must be displayed

Displaying the score is mandatory right next to the price, both in stores and online. For in-store sales, this means a pictogram visible directly on the product or next to its price tag. For online sales, the pictogram must appear on every page where the product can be bought, in a font size comparable to the price shown, with no extra action required from the buyer.

A decree of 29 December 2020 precisely sets out the graphic design of this pictogram, so that its display remains consistent from one retailer to another and easily recognisable by consumers. This obligation applies equally to large physical retailers and online marketplaces, whatever sales channel the buyer chooses. Several tools also let shoppers compare scores by model before buying, which is particularly useful for telling apart two appliances in the same range without checking each one’s full technical sheet.

Repairability index versus durability index

The durability index, which is progressively replacing the repairability index for certain categories, keeps the same five repairability criteria while adding reliability and robustness criteria: resistance to drops, to moisture, or the number of guaranteed operating cycles depending on the appliance type. It therefore gives a fuller picture of a product’s expected lifespan, beyond its repairability alone.

For a household, favouring an appliance that scores well on either index brings a benefit that goes beyond repair alone: an appliance designed to last longer also means fewer replacements, with an indirect effect on the home’s electricity consumption. This is especially true for large appliances such as a refurbished washing machine or a new one, since an ageing unit can drive up the bill well before it fully breaks down. Keeping an eye on this type of expense is worth it to reduce your electricity bill over time, by identifying the most energy-hungry appliances in the home.