For the past 4 years, with the publication of the AGEC law in the Official Journal in 2020, Europe has been engaged in a transformation towards a more sustainable economy, reinforced by more recent initiatives such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and other regulations aimed at reducing waste. The DPP will enable products to be traced throughout their lifecycles, providing information on their composition, repairability and repairs carried out, including the replacement of spare parts.
At Platana, we're proud to support this transition by offering after-sales service (AS) digitization solutions that help companies meet the requirements of the AGEC law (Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire) and promote sustainable practices.
Overview of the AGEC Act
What is it?
The Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy (AGEC) law,adopted in France in 2020, is an ambitious piece of legislation that aims to transform the way we consume and produce, by promoting waste reduction and increasing the lifespan of products.
Why such a law?
Well, it's simple: our planet can no longer support the frantic pace of consumption of recent years. By introducing concrete measures, the AGEC law forces companies to adopt more sustainable practices. The aim is to preserve our natural resources, reduce our environmental impact and, at the same time, enable consumers to make financial savings by extending the life of their products.
The 5 pillars of the AGEC Act:
1. Moving away from disposable plastic: Imagine a world without plastic straws or disposable coffee stirrers. This is what the AGEC law aims to achieve by reducing the use of single-use plastics. Since 2021, many disposable plastic products have been progressively banned to encourage sustainable alternatives. The aim? Reduce the 8 million tonnes of plastic that end up in our oceans every year.
2. Better informed consumers: We all deserve to know what we're buying, don't we? The AGEC law improves transparency on product durability and repairability. Thanks to clear labelling, we can make more informed choices. For example, household appliances now display their repairability score, helping us to choose more sustainable products. What was a constraint at the time of its implementation is becoming a standard expected by consumers, and a practice that is developing in other sectors, as illustrated by the introduction of Leroy Merlin's Home Index.
3. Combating waste and promoting solidarity-based reuse: reuse, recycle and reduce waste - that's the program! The AGEC law supports solidarity-based reuse structures and charities. Since 2020, networks of ressourceries and recycleries have been facilitating the donation and resale of second-hand goods, integrating these practices into our daily lives and giving a second life to our objects.
4. Taking action against programmed obsolescence: Have you ever had the feeling that your appliances break down too quickly? The AGEC law combats this practice by promoting product durability. In 2020, for example, Apple was condemned for intentionally slowing down older iPhone models. Measures are being taken to enhance the repairability of goods and extend their lifespan, reducing the 57 million tonnes of electronic waste generated every year.
5. Better production: The AGEC law encourages companies to adopt more sustainable production models, including eco-design, reduced packaging and the use of recycled materials. Companies like MobiusPack, with their reusable packaging, are setting an example by proposing new alternatives. According to an ADEME report, 75% of companies surveyed now include eco-design in their strategy, and a third do so systematically.
Recent and future developments of the AGEC Act :
Extended warranty on repaired products
Resellers and repairers must now offer warranties on repaired products and provide transparent information on repairs carried out. This strengthens consumer confidence and extends the life of products. From January 1, 2022, if a consumer uses the legal warranty of conformity to repair their product, they will benefit from a six-month extension, taking the warranty from 24 to 30 months.
Repairability index and durability index
Since January 1, 2021, a reparability index has been mandatory for certain products such as smartphones, laptops, and household appliances. Rated out of 10, it informs consumers about the ease with which products can be repaired. From January 2025, this index will be supplemented by a durability index, including robustness and reliability criteria. The index will also be extended to other product categories, such as sports equipment and landscaping equipment, further encouraging sustainable repair and maintenance.
Spare parts availability
Manufacturers must now inform consumers about the availability of spare parts essential for product repair. This is intended to extend product life and facilitate repair.
Extension of extended producer responsibility (EPR) channels
The AGEC law introduced new EPR channels. Since January, producers (manufacturers, importers, distributors) have been required to contribute to the collection, reuse, repair and recycling of waste from their products.
Obligation to purchase re-used goods
The decree of February 21, 2024 requires the State, local authorities and their groupings to acquire annually a minimum proportion of goods that are reused, re-employed, or incorporate recycled materials. Applicable from July 1, 2024, this measure aims to encourage the circular economy.
Repair bonus
Since December 2022, the AGEC law's repair bonus has helped consumers save money on repairs carried out by approved repairers. Rather than throwing away a faulty appliance that is no longer under legal warranty, consumers can take advantage of this bonus to repair it. The aim is to combat programmed obsolescence and encourage greener consumption. The bonus is financed by producer contributions, paid to state-approved eco-organizations such as Ecosystem, Ecologic and Refashion.
In fact, since January 2024, some twenty new items of equipment have been eligible for the repair bonus, including power tools, scanners, printers, monitors, hairdryers and food processors. In addition, for many products, the bonus has been increased by €5, and for five appliances, the repair amount has even doubled.
The importance of digital solutions for legal compliance and traceability
Having explored the various facets of the AGEC law, it is clear that this legislation is encouraging companies to become actively involved in the energy and ecological transition. While these new sustainability and compliance requirements may seem burdensome at first glance, companies can easily adapt to them by adopting high-performance digital solutions that ensure full transparency for consumers and regulators alike.
This is where Platana, the after-sales platform for retailers, comes in as a partner of choice. Platana is the after-sales platform that enables retailers to support their customers throughout the entire life cycle of their products. Our integrated data management systems enable retailers to centralize after-sales information on their products, thus structuring their product durability and reparability data. What's more, our solutions guarantee traceability of every action taken on products arriving at the after-sales service department: from diagnostics carried out to repairs carried out, including spare parts changes.
In fact, Platana also helps companies to integrate sustainable design practices by spreading this after-sales data throughout the organization. By facilitating the execution of repairs and relations with the various stakeholders (suppliers, repairers, customers, point-of-sale network, etc.), we are also transforming a costly model into a profitable one.
Our after-sales management tools provide better coordination between repairers, manufacturers and customers, optimizing efficiency and reducing repair times.
Platana also offers solutions for managing product recalls, enabling companies to efficiently remove defective products from the market and process them in accordance with recycling standards.
This not only ensures consumer safety, but also compliance with regulatory standards.
Conclusion
The AGEC law marks a significant shift towards a circular and sustainable economy. At Platana, we are committed to helping companies comply with these requirements while optimizing their after-sales service. With our expertise and innovative solutions, we help companies turn their challenges into opportunities for a circular and sustainable economy.
Click here to find out more about our solutions.
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