As a major fastener supplier to the Health and Home sector TR is actively supporting new designs and the re-introduction of fasteners that can be accessible for disassembly and repair.

For us as consumers of household goods we have got used to more limited life span of appliances compared to say 30 years ago. Product then, was more solidly built and was assembled by conventional methods using the welding and riveting production methods used less often today. They were however not as aesthetically pleasing, the choice of colours was either cream or white, but they lasted for years. They could also be accessed and repaired quickly with spares readily available, as there were also fewer models available with common parts.

We have come a long way in the design of products to meet our requirements for modern appliances in our sleek kitchens and utility rooms. What has been sacrificed over time is the durability and longevity of the product which inevitably means that product cannot easily be repaired in or out of warranty, and then ends up as scrap and potentially in landfill sites. If it can be repaired, but is out of warranty, it is often too expensive and there is a tendency to replace rather than repair. You could deduce that there is built in obsolescence in the way product is currently manufactured today. It would be better for the environment, and our wallets, if products could return to having the ability to replace components with a screwdriver or wrench and buy spare parts easily. Once a product has been welded or riveted it is nigh impossible to do that. Another case in point would be electrical waste which could be reduced if replacement parts were readily available, and not just to costly service engineers. Well known global brands of vacuum cleaners and electrical garden equipment are starting to enable consumers to buy online battery replacements which is a move in the right direction.