Repair and Service Center R.U.S.Z - Social enterprises as initiators of changes in policies

Transcription

1 Repair and Service Center R.U.S.Z - Social enterprises as initiators of changes in policies Sepp Eisenriegler CEO, Repair and Service Centre R.U.S.Z

2 Overview 1. Specific kind of business: WISE and part of Social Economy 2. Handling specific problems: UNU/StEP-data 3. Specific kind of networking: March through the (EU-) Institutions 4. R.U.S.Z: A specific icebreaker 5. Success factors 6. To Do s 7. Time left? Examples of planned obsolescence

3 Specific kind of business: WISE and part of Social Economy Based on market failure 1998: no serious repair services Today: planned obsolescence Based on policy failure High labour costs for services prices of new EEE do not speak the environmental and social truth No profits for this kind of private enterprise Added value for society environmentally, socially and economically Saving ressources by increase of durability of EEE and ReUse of WEEE Longterm unemployed get professional training and unlimited work contracts added value of repair services stays in the region, added value of new products go abroad

4 Handling specific problems: UNU/Step-data WEEE waste stream: traditionally the fastest growing waste stream 2012: 49 Mio tonnes of WEEE per year worldwide 2017: 65,4 (estimation of UNU, Bonn) => 33% growth The big three waste makers per capita and year (StEP initiative) USA: 29,8 kg Austria: 25,3 kg Germany: 23,2 kg The big two producers per country and year (StEP initiative) China: 11 Mio. tons USA: 10 Mio. tons

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6 Specific kind of networking: March through the institutions 1998: founding of R.U.S.Z local and regional levels 1999: founding of RepairNetWork Vienna local and regional levels 1999: founding of RREUSE (R.U.S.Z founding member) EU level 2004: founding of RepaNet Austria Austrian (member states) level definition of local needs for repair/reuse and lobbying at MS level lobbying the waste legislation at EU level (WEEE, Waste Framework directives) harvesting the lobbying successes at MS level ReUse platform in the Austrian Life Ministry WFD Art. 11 WEEE Recast: accredited ReUse centers get access to the WEEE of retailers (not yet implemented)

7 R.U.S.Z a specific icebreaker R.U.S.Z spin off D.R.Z 1st manual treatment center for WEEE in Austria tuning of old washing machines energy efficiency meets resource efficiency energy counselling of low income households to prevent energy poverty donation program to get access to old washing machines from private households media campaign against planned obsolescence 1st professional repair cafe as a platform against planned obsolescence CSR-Repair sponsoring of employment of longterm unemployed update of the R.U.S.Z based Austrian standard ONR Ecodesign Label for durable, repairable EEE boycotted by the manufacturers White List for durable, repairable EEE, promoted together with Austrian consumer protection organisations, Austrian Life Ministry, Austrian Energy Agency, Austrian Standards Institute 2014: white goods 2015: consumer electronics

8 Success Factors support of local, regional, federal policy cooperation with specific scientists (alternative economy, global warming, labour, resouces, waste, ) good contacts to the media VIPs as key customers use of social media awards

9 To Do s lower labour costs! Increase resource costs! EU standard for durable, repairable products resource efficiency labelling within the energy efficiency label resource efficiency regulations into the new Ecodesign Directive recycling society AND leasing society sustainable consumption: Product Service Systems plus Circular AND Sharing Economies taxes on throw away products (Zac Goldsmith) regulation of sales promotion/advertising psychological obsolescence

10 PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE We buy products we don t need, with money we don t have, to impress people we don t like! Our big job is to hasten obsolescence (Harley Earl, Manager of GM 1920s) Sloan did his utmost to find new ways to decrease durability and increase obsolescence. (Slade, S. 43) An article that does not wear out is a tragedy for business (US-Advertising magazine 1928) Our whole economy is based on planned obsolescence (Leading US designing engineer Brooks Stevens,1958) Maximum sales volume demands the cheapest construction for the briefest interval the buying public will tolerate. (Vance Packard 1960)

11 PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE Technical designing engineers: product lifecycle management programs allow to determine the planned useful life of products. Examples: Light bulbs: working life halved Plastic gear in handheld electric mixers Embedded meters (counters) in printers

12 PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE Designed to break Purchasing for the waste dump e.g.: throw away washing machine Ball-bearings get ruined because of underdesigned (weak) shock absorbers throw away washing machine <=> high end WM Change of ball-bearings impossible <=> Change of ball-bearings easily done

13 PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE Designed to break Purchasing for the waste dump e.g.: consumer electronics, Flat TVs Most common default: Elkos underdesigned (weak) capacitors get ruined because of ambient temperature suitable capacitors would cost 1 Cent more

14 PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

15 It is unethical and not at all sustainable to waste resources for maximising profits by selling products with decreasing life spans! Sepp Eisenriegler MAS, MBA Geschäftsführer des Reparatur- und Service-Zentrums R.U.S.Z ZVR-Zahl , FN g Mobile: sepp.eisenriegler@rusz.at