Navigating the EU Right to Repair Directive - Compliance business opportunities

Over the past decade, the focus on environmental issues has grown exponentially, resulting in various global commitments initiatives aimed at transforming current institutional, economic, and financial models.

The EU Right to Repair Directive (Directive 2024/1799/EU), adopted on June 13, 2024, is a pivotal component of the European Green Deal, aiming to foster sustainable consumption by promoting the repair and reuse of goods. This directive mandates that manufacturers and sellers facilitate easier, more affordable repairs, thereby extending product lifespans and reducing waste. Businesses must align with these new obligations by July 31, 2026, to ensure compliance and capitalise on emerging opportunities in the circular economy.

By the end of this training, participants will:

• understand the scope and requirements of the EU Right to Repair Directive;
• identify the implications for manufacturers, retailers, and repair service providers;
• explore strategies to integrate repair-friendly practices into business models;
• assess the compliance timeline and necessary steps for timely adherence;
• recognise the potential benefits of embracing repair initiatives, including enhanced customer loyalty sustainability credentials.

• Introduction to the EU Right to Repair Directive
  • What is the Right to Repair, and why is it important?
  • Connection to EU sustainability goals - Circular economy, waste reduction, and Green Deal
  • Industries affected and compliance deadlines
• Key regulatory requirements and compliance obligations
  • Mandatory repair services beyond the legal warranty period
  • Obligation to provide spare parts and repair manuals
  • Establishment of an EU-wide online repair platform to connect consumers with repair services
  • Consumer right to choose independent repair services without voiding warranties
• Business impact & legal risks
  • Financial and operational costs of compliance
  • Regulatory penalties and consumer lawsuits for non-compliance
  • Reputational risks - Consumer expectations around sustainability transparency
  • Opportunities for businesses to enhance circularity and create new service-based revenue streams
• Funding and incentives available from the EU
• Next steps for businesses
  • Conducting product portfolio assessments for repairability
  • Establishing repair service frameworks and spare parts availability
  • Training customer service, legal, and compliance teams
  • Enhancing marketing and consumer communication strategies to align with the directive

This training is coordinated by Michael Horvath, Partner and Julien Jacqué, Director at PwC Luxembourg.

Michael has acquired a strong financial and regulatory audit as well as advisory background and significant experience leading projects in the asset management sphere.

In the recent past, Michael has been particularly involved in various regulatory projects related to the implementation of the EU regulatory framework for sustainable finance (i.e. SFDR, taxonomy regulation, CSRD) at entity and product level. Michael is involved in various other regulatory projects for clients, from DORA, AML/CFT regulation over CSSF circular 18/698 to MICA.

Julien is the EMEA Sustainability in Finance Transformation Leader at PwC and is actively engaged in PwC EMEA’s CSRD Centre of Excellence. With over 11 years of consulting experience, he currently oversees PwC LU’s Sustainability Reporting and Transformation services.

Julien holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Corporate Finance and has provided extensive support to clients in the implementation of data and technology solutions. Over the past few years, he has assisted both financial and corporate clients in their sustainability journey, spanning strategy, transformation, and reporting. Julien possesses both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in ESG regulations such as CSRD, EU Taxonomy, EU ETS, and CBAM.