Germany promotes repair rights and insurance to extend electronics lifespan

Germany is preparing to implement a “right to repair” framework that will require manufacturers to support repairs of smartphones, laptops, e‑bike batteries and other consumer electronics. Repair cafés, such as those organized by the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin, are seeing growing participation as consumers seek to fix devices rather than discard them.

At the same time, insurance specialist Wertgarantie offers a device‑insurance product that covers repair costs for common failures, including screen breaks, water damage, theft and cyber‑theft. The plan provides monthly premiums from €3.50 and connects users with a network of over 7,000 authorised repair partners, aiming to reduce e‑waste and lower the financial barrier to professional repairs.