The Advisory Council on the Environment, which has been advising the federal government for 50 years, encourages politicians to make it easier for individuals to act in a way that is more climate and environmentally friendly. The framework conditions would have to be redesigned in such a way that environmental protection becomes the obvious option. Using smartphones as an example, the experts are urging the introduction of a nationwide repair bonus based on examples from Thuringia and Austria. Such programs are considered an option to promote the longer use of products and thus contribute to a sustainable economy.
Repair instead of throwing away
A possible ally in giving older devices a second life could be the repair trade, the environmental experts write in a Tuesday published opinions. Own offers for training and further education as well as cooperation with repair initiatives are conceivable. The municipalities also benefit “if regional jobs and added value are created, so that they should be won over as partners”. Basic influencing factors depended heavily on the provision of information and education. This included, for example, repairs as a compulsory part of the curriculum in elementary and secondary schools, instructions on how to care for the equipment, but also knowledge of the consequences of raw material consumption.
“Longer guarantee and warranty periods as well as the right to repairs can lead to a higher appreciation in the medium term,” emphasizes the council, also with a view to software updates. The offer of an individual cost reduction over the required bonus simplified repair decisions. Organizational simplifications such as uncomplicated access to spare parts, instructions and repair shops, for example via information platforms, and the promotion of regional repair initiatives had a supporting effect. It is also crucial to change the structure of purchase and use options for smartphones. The researchers recommend separating contracts and devices, a clear statement of the total price for a rental or innovative bonuses when extending a contract, for example in the form of a battery or display replacement.
Facilitate environmentally friendly behavior
The researchers consider the chances of slowing down the current trend towards frequent throwing away of functional electrical devices to be good: the European initiative for sustainable products will lead to more eco-design in device planning in the foreseeable future. Supplementary measures are likely to be accepted by the population, since longer use of the devices helps to save costs. Such measures should also be able to be communicated to party politicians, after all, consumers have “greater freedom of choice in the use of devices” through information, repair options, their own relevant knowledge or financial help.
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“We can only contain the ecological crises if everyone contributes,” emphasized council member Annette Elisabeth Töller from Fernuni Hagen. “Whether consumption, private investments or leisure activities: It is high time that politicians facilitated, promoted and – where necessary – also demanded environmentally friendly behavior.” This is not just a task for environmental policy, but also for departments such as transport, energy, construction and nutrition. The accusation of “paternalism” that is often heard falls short of the mark: “Behaviour is always influenced from outside, for example by advertising and earlier political decisions, but currently it is often at the expense of the environment.” In addition to mobile phones, the council also considers individual consumer decisions, for example in the areas of meat consumption and building renovation, to be particularly important for successful environmental and climate protection.
(olb)
