Fast tech has fuelled a blind spot in the global emissions crisis, says Katy Medlock, UK general manager at Back Market.
The call from businesses and charities to scrap VAT on refurbished electronics has reignited a vital conversation about sustainability, affordability, and access in UK tech.
Coordinated by The Restart Project, the joint letter to DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed supports policies in the #RepairReuseDeclaration to promote repair and reuse.
Momentum is growing, but lasting change needs more than good intentions. If the UK is serious about a circular economy, we need stronger collaboration across government, industry, and civil society. Consumer technology remains a major blind spot in climate action and one we can no longer afford to ignore.
The overlooked fast tech crisis
The tech sector already accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than aviation, yet it remains largely absent from mainstream climate conversations. Alarmingly, this figure could rise to 14% by 2040 if current consumption trends continue. In the UK alone, an estimated 25 million devices are discarded every year, and up to 80% of a device’s lifetime emissions are generated during manufacturing.
The numbers are stark: we’re discarding perfectly functional tech while driving an emissions crisis through relentless overproduction. According to our Impact Report, manufacturing a single smartphone requires 588 pounds of raw materials, from aluminium and iron to copper and gold, and a staggering 23,500 gallons of fresh water. Yet just 17.4% of global e-waste is properly collected and recycled; the rest ends up in landfill, leaking toxic chemicals into soil and water systems.
This isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a design flaw. Our tech ecosystem is built for obsolescence, not longevity. Devices are engineered to be replaced, not repaired. Software support ends within a few years, and hardware components are intentionally paired to specific models, making independent repair difficult or impossible.
For consumers, the repair process is often expensive, confusing, and full of unnecessary barriers, pushing many to replace rather than fix their devices. It’s a throwaway system by design, and it’s fundamentally unsustainable.
The result? A fast tech culture that rewards novelty over necessity, at an immense cost to the planet.
The Right to Repair: A path forward
The Right to Repair movement is tackling planned obsolescence by pushing the tech industry toward more sustainable, consumer-friendly practices.
By raising awareness, advocating for policy change, and pressuring manufacturers to prioritise durability, the movement is pushing for legislation that makes repairing devices more accessible and affordable.
These efforts help extend the lifespan of tech products, reduce the volume of devices sent to landfill, and make technology more affordable, particularly for those who can’t easily replace broken devices with new ones.
In response, governments at every level, from local councils to international bodies, have begun introducing legislation to enshrine the right to repair. These laws are compelling tech companies to rethink and, in some cases, radically alter their business models.
The benefits are clear: empowering consumers to repair their devices is better for the environment, more equitable, and challenges a throwaway culture that can no longer be justified.
Why collaboration is essential
The Right to Repair movement has driven global policy changes, pushing manufacturers to move away from planned obsolescence. However, the progress is slow.
While EU regulations now require spare parts for smartphones and tablets to be available for seven years and software updates for five, many brands bypass these rules through tactics such as parts pairing and software barriers that block independent repairs.
Ultimately, the Right to Repair can’t succeed alone. It needs real collaboration between manufacturers, policymakers, repairers and refurbishers – groups that are often working against, rather than with, each other.
Manufacturers need to embed eco-design principles from the drawing board, not as an afterthought. This means designing modular devices that can be easily disassembled, using standard screws instead of proprietary ones, and ensuring software doesn’t artificially expire. Some companies are beginning to embrace this.
Policymakers must go beyond basic Right to Repair frameworks to tackle the root causes. This means:
mandating longer access to software updates
banning parts pairing practices that obstruct repairs
mandating non-discriminatory long access to spare parts at fair prices, and
establishing clear regulatory frameworks that protect independent refurbishers’ right to operate and use third-party spare parts.
Governments must create the conditions for the circular business model to thrive and ensure that manufacturers are prevented from using contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques to obstruct independent repairs.
Refurbishers and repair shops are vital to a circular economy but currently lack clear legal recognition and protections. Without this, they face barriers like restricted access to parts and tools, allowing manufacturers to maintain monopolistic control over repairs.
This limits consumer choice and weakens the Right to Repair movement. For a truly sustainable tech ecosystem, refurbishers must be recognised as essential infrastructure with proper rights and safeguarding policies.
The letter to DEFRA shows a cross-sector appetite for change. But policy alone isn’t enough. Lasting change isn’t only about what happens in parliament; it relies on manufacturers, advocates, and refurbishers working together toward a common goal.
It’s not a question of whether building a more sustainable tech sector is possible; it’s whether we’re ready to come together and make it happen. Because the planet can’t afford to wait any longer.
