I think too many people here are focusing on consumer electronics and in your example i found what I expect the French law is also about: white appliances. We

I think too many people here are focusing on consumer electronics and in your example i found what I expect the French law is also about: white appliances. We actually don't buy fridges and dishwashers expecting them to last 3-5 years (or at least we shouldn't). But many of these things have a lifespan far shorter than we expect given today's automated manufacturing and quality control and that everyone involved should be a specialist (design, engineering etc). These types of household appliances should be better. But I also think that in Europe recycling of appliances is now a political issue big enough to warrant a "what are we going to do with all of these mobile phones?" law.