An EU law to encourage companies to build products which can be repaired, instead of just replaced, is about a year away.
The practice of businesses designing products not to last so you'll need to buy new ones regularly is known as 'planned obsolescence'.
The so-called 'right-to-repair' rules would be part the EU Green Deal, so manufacturers would design electrical products which last longer and can be refurbished easily, to a high standard.
Speaking to RedFM News, Irish MEP Seán Kelly says the move would benefit consumers and help reduce electrical waste:
"The whole purpose of it is to save money. It's costing consumers €12 billion per annum having to replace items that don't need to be replaced. And we need to change that. But we need to ensure of course, that the replacement items or parts for the washing machine or whatever wouldn't be too dear".
