The right to repair legislation is making waves in consumer goods manufacturing and spare parts logistics across the US, Europe, and the UK. With at least four US states adopting this legislation and major European and UK retailers following suit, the move aims to reduce waste and counter the “disposable society” culture. While this shift is excellent for the environment, it brings significant challenges for companies managing packaging and logistics.
Read more here: How EU Packaging Waste Regulations Impact E-Commerce Businesses
Shifting from Disposable to Repairable Consumer Goods
For decades, repairs have been neglected in favour of replacing broken items due to cost and design barriers. Products were often designed in ways that made repairs physically or economically unfeasible. Now, under increasing regulatory and consumer pressure, manufacturers must embrace repairability.
In the US, right to repair laws require companies to provide tools, spare parts, and repair instructions at reasonable prices. Similarly, the European Parliament mandates manufacturers of household goods to either repair damaged items or make necessary resources available. Retailers like Curry’s and John Lewis in the UK are expanding repair services, alongside their usual spare parts offerings.
Packaging Challenges for Spare Parts Distribution
The growing demand for spare parts creates logistical hurdles. OEMs and stockists must supply individual items or repair kits to professionals and consumers, while repair shops manage packaging for returned refurbished products. The diversity of spare parts, from small microswitches to large washing machine drums, makes standard packaging impractical.
Smaller parts also pose unique challenges, as they require more packaging material relative to their size. This increases costs in both materials and labour. Additionally, oversized boxes lead to higher shipping fees, especially when courier rates are based on volumetric weight.
The Role of Automation in Addressing Packaging Challenges
Smart automation offers an effective solution for the packaging demands created by the right to repair movement. Automated boxing systems can right-size boxes for each order, reducing material use, labour costs, and shipping expenses.
Sparck Technologies’ CVP machines, such as the CVP Impack and CVP Everest, offer ground-breaking capabilities. These machines can create custom-sized boxes for individual items or repair kits using 3D scanning technology. They calculate the optimal box size, cut and crease the board, and assemble the box efficiently.
For instance, the CVP Everest can pack up to 1,100 boxes per hour, significantly outpacing manual operations while maintaining consistency and accuracy. These systems also eliminate the need for void fillers and reduce storage space for pre-formed boxes.
Benefits of Right-Sized Packaging
Automated right-sized packaging offers numerous advantages:
- Material Savings: Up to 30% less board usage.
- Reduced Shipping Costs: Smaller boxes reduce volumetric weight charges.
- Environmental Benefits: Less packaging waste and increased sustainability.
- Operational Efficiency: Higher throughput with reduced labour requirements.
- Improved Customer Experience: Snug packaging reduces the risk of transit damage.
Looking Ahead: Repair and Packaging
As the right to repair movement continues to expand, packaging and logistics innovations will play a pivotal role in supporting this transition. Automated solutions, like Sparck’s CVP machines, ensure that manufacturers, stockists, and repair shops can meet the growing demands efficiently and sustainably. By adopting these technologies, businesses can address packaging challenges while supporting a more repair-friendly economy.
The right to repair is not just a legislative shift—it’s a call to innovate, adapt, and embrace smarter, more sustainable practices across industries.
More information on for CVP Automated Packaging can be found on Sparck Technologies
