OEMs

Electronics manufacturers are making their devices more sustainable every day, with longer-lasting products, reused materials, take-back programs and designs that have repair and recycling in mind from the start, industry experts told an audience of e-scrap recyclers last year. 

Google is the latest OEM to get behind right-to-repair electronics legislation. The company announced Jan. 11 that it endorsed an Oregon bill it called a "compelling model."

Device repair and reuse is a hot topic, and OEM representatives recently talked about how manufacturers are supporting – and can better support – that aspect of the industry. 

Major electronics manufacturers this week joined with the Consumer Technology Association to form the Consumer Technology Circularity Initiative, aiming to boost e-scrap processing, improve repair and reuse, and incorporate more recycled content into products.

Responding to concerns about scrapping otherwise usable devices, Microsoft announced it will extend security updates for Windows 10 – for a price. 

As Microsoft prepares to end support for a huge number of Windows 10 devices, the Public Interest Research Group has started a petition to extend the support period for the operating system.

Apple supports the concept of federal right-to-repair legislation, and it will voluntarily extend the requirements of California's new repair law to the rest of the U.S., Apple's repair boss said Tuesday. 

Consumers in California now have the right to repair some of their electronic devices after Gov. Gavin Newson signed SB 244 into law Oct. 10.

California's right-to-repair bill for electronics awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature, and supporters are lauding the years of work it took to get to this point. 

California's right-to-repair bill is drawing more high-profile backing, with HP becoming the latest OEM to publicly endorse it.