Henrik Mjelva (23) has run iFik’s Express in Bodø for three years. Every day, customers come in who want to have damaged iPhones and iPads repaired. But even if Mjelva gets the company going, it’s not all easy. – It becomes more and more difficult. It doesn’t seem like manufacturers want phones to be fixed. They only want to sell new ones, says Mjelva and adds: – I feel in many ways that I am operating on borrowed time. Now the EU is working to introduce new guidelines for the design of products in Europe. The goal? To force manufacturers to make products that are easier to repair. Put barriers in the products But why is it so difficult to repair, for example, an iPhone? – Barriers are being put in place that make everything much more difficult. If you change parts on everything from the iPhone 8 and up, you can lose, for example, FaceID, explains Mjelva. How often do you buy a new phone? I have to have the latest phone every year Well, after a couple of years I’d like a new phone Every three years it’s time to change I’ll use the phone for at least four years before it’s new A phone is still usable after five years Six years is the limit I buy a new phone when the old one no longer works Show result The problem is that he is not an authorized Apple repairer. He uses parts that are identical to the original ones, but they are not verified. If he inserts a new screen, for example, the phone will inform you that the screen is not “original”. – Customers naturally become skeptical. And I have to explain that before I possibly switch, says Mjelva and adds: – I lose many customers because I warn them in advance. Must be forced to change It’s not just iPhones that are difficult or unprofitable to repair. Earlier this summer, news mentioned how a company that repaired white goods had to close down. They simply couldn’t make it work financially – and the customers almost saved money on buying new goods. Mjelva has few problems with changing the screen, but he cannot get rid of the warnings that the product is not original. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news On the basis of this very fact, a “Right to repair” movement has emerged in recent years. More than 40 organizations in 16 countries stand together for the right to repair. Now it has also been announced that the European Commission will present a new proposal during the third quarter of 2022 which will force manufacturers to make the products easier to repair. EU expert Paal Frisvold tells news that such a regulation is necessary if there is to be hope for a better circular economy in Norway. Paal Frisvold says it is important that the EU uses the power it has to create change. Photo: Sara Vannebo Wilsgaard / Waste Norway – Individual nations in the EU alone will not be able to force the large electronics giants to change their behaviour. This is why this is important, he says and adds: – Such a measure will force the manufacturers to make changes. Important for the environment There are already examples of large manufacturers being forced to change, such as that all mobile phone chargers must have USB-C by the autumn of 2024. – Why is it important to have new regulations around this matter of repair? – If we are to win the environmental and climate battle, it cannot continue as it is now. 80 per cent of climate and gas emissions are related to how we design our products, says Frisvold and adds: – Never before has the top part of the value chain been properly addressed. The EU’s circular economy strategy said that you have to do just that. Although there are a number of challenges, Henrik Mjelva has many customers within a week. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Can do more in Norway Frisvold is, in addition to being employed by Sintef, deputy head of Frogner MDG. He is supported by the deputy leader for the entire party: – Here the EU can make a very big difference for consumers all over the world. It is too difficult for individual countries – and we are completely dependent on the EU challenging this, says Arild Hermstad in MDG to news. However, he points out that more is needed than the products being better designed. – Norway can do much more. Among other things, we can remove VAT on repairs, train repairers, set requirements for Norwegian companies regarding repairable products and requirements for product lifetimes. MUST DO MORE: Arild Hermstad points out that Norway can do far more to take care of our planet. Photo: Birgitte Wold Ingebretsen / news – Every country can do much more, and Norway does far too little. For Mjelva in iFik’s express, the changes may mean that he does not have to tell customers that the product can send warnings after repair. – I think it is very good that things are being done so that we can repair more. I like to fix my own things and it’s expensive to buy new all the time.
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Repairing iPhones and electronics can be easier – new EU rules on the way – news Nordland
