How Long Should Electrical And Electronics Products Last?

The German Environment Agency (UBA) report1 into the life span of electrical appliances and electronic devices (or E&E) recommends introducing a minimum period of service life, or durability. The aim is to combat the impact that these products have upon the environment and climate.

Released in February 2016 and conducted by the Öko-Institut and Bonn University, the UBA-commissioned report sets out to:

1) Investigate usage duration and product life span patterns
2) Gather information on the influence of E&E products’ life span upon the environment
3) Develop a strategy to combat obsolescence

Product groups included in the study were large household appliances (e.g. refrigerators, washing machines), small household appliances (e.g. hand mixers, kettles), information and communication technology (e.g. desktop PCs, printers, smartphones) and consumer electronics (televisions).

While consumers purchase such items for various reasons, 75% of the people surveyed agreed that they are driven by their passion for technological innovation in a particular product category, and the need to own the best or latest version of a particular product.

Products Peaking Sooner
The trend for the duration of product usage reveals that a large number of household appliances are replaced within five years. Furthermore, other statistics showed a decline in average service-life for the first user of a household appliance from 14.1 years in 2004 to 13 years in 2013. Also, 57.6% of large household appliances were replaced in 2004 because of a defect, whereas it was 55.6% in 2012. It’s critical to note that almost one third of these appliances were still functional at the time of their replacement.

A similar trend has been observed for consumer electronics. For example, flat screen TVs had an average 5.7 years of service-life for the first user in 2007. By 2010, this number had decreased to 4.4 years. Similarly, in 2012 over 60% of the flat screen TVs replaced were still functional.

The Impact On The Environment
Every stage of the E&E product life cycle – from manufacturing and bringing to market to usage and disposal – has an impact on our environment and climate. Hence, products with shorter usage periods and life spans generate greater pressure than those with a longer life. For example, the energy consumed and the global warming impact of washing machines with a five-year life span is 40% higher when compared to those with a 20-year life span.

Since many of the products were replaced for better models, the study also delved into different types of obsolescence: material, functional, psychological and economic. The aim was to describe and understand the causes of obsolescence and to identify ways of guarding against it.

While the report did not find any proof of planned obsolescence on the part of manufacturers, it did reveal that they consider a specific lifetime for products. This is based on factors such as product type, target consumers, consumers’ expectations for technological innovation, usage scenarios and product cycles.

UBA’s President, Maria Krautzberger, has outlined the following report recommendation2: “For the sake of consumers and the environment, a system of labeling which expresses the typical life expectancy of an appliance in hours of use would be beneficial”.

Although manufacturers would take on this responsibility, consumers would be responsible for making sure that a functional appliance or device that they replace with a newer and better one is at least donated, exchanged or loaned as part of a municipal program. Many cities have already implemented such schemes.

SGS Helps E&E Manufacturers
SGS can support your development of electrical and electronic equipment throughout the design and production stages. Our global network of E&E testing labs, offices and experts is close to all of the major manufacturing regions.

For more information and support in the fields of product safety, performance, energy efficiency and market access requirements, visit SGS Electrical and Electronics website or contact:

Michael Jaenecke
Global Certification Manager
SGS Korea Co., Ltd
t: +82 31 689 5038
e: cts.media@sgs.com

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.