Impact of the EU Right to Repair Directive on Independent Repairers A case study on the impact of the EU Right to Repair Directive on operations strategy for independent repairers

Abstract

This thesis studies how the EU Right to Repair directive affects independent repairers, with a focus on the implementation of operations strategy. The background is the increasing amount of e-waste and the need to move from a linear to a circular economy. To achieve this, repairing and reusing products plays a crucial role. The study consists of a qualitative case study of a Swedish independent repairer. Data collection includes interviews with employees at the case company, as well as external businesses and stakeholders. It is further based on an observation, a workshop, and a literature review. An abductive approach has been applied to enable an iterative analysis between theory and empirical data. The results show that the Right to Repair directive creates both opportunities and challenges for independent repairers. Opportunities are mainly identified as improved access to spare parts and information, which can strengthen competitive advantage and increase demand for repair services. Furthermore, it may enable collaboration and increased market visibility. Meanwhile, challenges such as intellectual property rights, product design, and market dynamics remain, in combination with dependency on original equipment manufacturers. Administrative burdens and uncertainty in inflow remain key challenges. Furthermore, the study highlights that independent repairers will need to adapt their operations strategies to handle increased complexity, variability in inflow, and changes in customer behaviour. Strategic implementations include adapting operations by closely monitoring manufacturers and market developments, as well as offering differentiated service offerings. The breadth of the business should be reassessed to ensure a clear focus, transparency, and alignment with core values. Selective automation should be tested on a small scale to manage increasing demand efficiently. Overall, the directive is unlikely to fundamentally transform the market on its own but rather reinforce existing trends while gradually reshaping competitive dynamics.