France Launches Durability Index to Combat Planned Obsolescence

The new index, replacing the reparability score, debuts on televisions with expanded criteria to promote longer-lasting products.

The Durability Index, introduced under France's 2020 anti-waste law, assigns products a score out of 10 based on factors like resistance to wear, ease of maintenance, and warranty coverage.
The index replaces the Reparability Index and is now mandatory for televisions, with plans to extend it to washing machines starting April 8, 2025.
The initiative aims to provide consumers with clearer information about product reliability and encourage manufacturers to produce more sustainable goods.
The association Halte à l’Obsolescence Programmée (HOP) praised the new index as a significant step forward but criticized its limited scope and the exclusion of smartphones due to EU decisions.
The French Ministry of Ecological Transition highlights the index's expanded criteria, including product durability and reliability, as a tool to support eco-conscious purchasing decisions.