As part of an agreementwithAs You Sow, a nonprofit organization geared toward the mindfulness of corporate pollution, Microsoft has announced the expansion of repair options for their devices by the end of 2022.
As a shareholder in Microsoft, As You Sow used its leverage tocreate and push a resolutionthat encouraged the corporation to take responsibility for some their carbon footprint. This call to action was made with the intention of reducing technological waste and increasing the lifespan of already existing devices from the company by allowing the right to repair.
Kelly McBee, waste program coordinator at As You Sow,says, “Excitingly, this agreement will begin to allow consumers to repair their Microsoft devices outside the limited network of authorized repair shops.”
By answering As You Sow’s resolution, Microsoft has declared it willmeet several criteriaregarding repairing by 2022. The company has vouched to follow through on research regarding the environmental impact that the right to repair would have, offer a larger variety of available parts and documentation for third-party repairing, and better ways to enable local repair options for customers.
Beyond Microsoft, the desire forlegislation concerning the right to repairhas been growing alongside technology. Earlier this year a historical milestone was even reached with thefirst congressional bill addressing the topic.
Other organizations, like Green Century Funds, have beenpushing Apple for similar actionon the right to repair. While Apple relentedsome ability to repair devicesin 2019 by allowing third-party technicians the certification to repair, current options are still extremely limiting and continue to encourage excess waste pollution.
Microsoft’s new agreement, together with Google’s new focus onsustainability, could be a sign of a new trend in the industry.
