RepairAbility-Behind-the-Scenes-of-a-Sustainable-Innovation

RepairAbility: A Revolution in Product Repairability Assessment

The RepairAbility tool, a result of the partnership between LONGTIME® and L’Oréal, was designed to address a crucial need in the field of eco-design: the ability to assess the repairability of products in a simple, quick, and efficient way. This application aims to help manufacturers improve the durability of their products by providing a method of assessment that complies with European standards. François Belin and Elsa Lomont from LONGTIME® tell us more about the origin of this innovative project.

A Necessity Born from the Complexity of Repairability

The concept of RepairAbility emerged from the realization that while regulations exist, such as the repairability index in France, they only cover a portion of manufactured products, particularly in categories like televisions and smartphones. François Belin explains: “Many manufacturers of other types of products find themselves lacking an adapted methodology to assess the repairability of their products. We provide them with this method so they can do it independently.”

This is how LONGTIME® drew from the European standard EN 45554 to create a robust and universal rating system, anticipating future regulations. Elsa Lomont also emphasizes: “We isolated this methodology to give all manufacturers the means to work on improving product repairability, with a simple and effective scoring system. We also added certain criteria, including price, to ensure the results are as relevant as possible.”

The Partnership with L’Oréal: A Relevant Collaboration

The work with L’Oréal began in a context where the company was looking to assess the repairability of its products but encountered limitations with existing tools. At the time, we had an initial version of the scoring and were able to assist in calculating the score through workshops. François Belin recounts: “We started working with L’Oréal by collecting data on products followed by a scoring workshop. L’Oréal quickly integrated this calculation into its product development process. After several projects, L’Oréal gained enough expertise to consider independent calculations.” Elsa Lomont adds: “The time had come to develop a tool that addressed the need for quick evaluation, but also for the autonomy of manufacturers. L’Oréal was very invested in the collaboration to create an autonomous software, and we launched the work with great enthusiasm.”

Thus, RepairAbility was equipped with technical expertise aligned with the real needs of its users.

Challenges to Overcome for a Universal Tool

The main challenge encountered during the development of RepairAbility was making the tool applicable to a wide variety of products while adhering to common criteria. François Belin explains: “We had to find a balance between a generic methodology applicable to all products and the need to refine certain criteria based on the product family.”

Elsa Lomont also highlights the difficulty of finding the right partner for software development, a challenge that was overcome through collaboration with Altermaker, a company specialized in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software.

The Advantages of RepairAbility

One of the main advantages of the application is its ease of use and speed. Using the methodology from the EN 45554 standard, the application allows users to obtain a repairability score and report in less than a day’s work. “RepairAbility simplifies the complexity of repairability studies into a concrete, fast, and easy-to-use tool,” explains François Belin.

Moreover, the application is adaptable to a wide variety of products, whether mechanical or electronic, and offers true autonomy to users at any stage of the product’s life. Elsa Lomont clarifies: “It is accessible and used by CSR profiles, marketing teams, and even eco-design consultants, research firms, and distributors.”

The Future of RepairAbility

The RepairAbility application is not limited to its current use. “We plan to integrate RepairAbility into a global sustainability score and use it as a preparation tool for the LONGTIME® label. We also see potential for integration with European regulations, particularly through the inclusion of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) foreseen by the ESPR initiative (Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation). This passport, by centralizing key information about products, will strengthen sustainability efforts in the future.”

Thus, RepairAbility represents a significant advancement in repairability assessment, offering a transparent and concrete method to help manufacturers improve the durability of their products. Thanks to strategic partnerships like the one with L’Oréal, this solution is likely to play a key role in promoting eco-design and reducing the environmental impact of manufactured products.