In an effort to reduce clothing waste, France will launch a repair bonus from October 2023 to encourage fixing clothes and shoes rather than discarding them.
Consumers will receive 7 euros for shoe heel repairs and 10-25 euros for clothing fixes funded through a 154 million euro government program spanning 2023-2028. This aims to cut the 700,000 tonnes of clothes French residents throw away yearly, two-thirds of which end up in landfills.
Sewing workshops and shoe repair shops can register with eco-organization Refashion to be approved for the bonus scheme. The goal is to support artisan repair services as part of France’s wider reform of the polluting fashion industry.
Brands offering repair services for their own apparel and shoes may also qualify. In 2022 alone, 3.3 billion pieces of clothes, footwear and household linens entered the French market, per Refashion.
The repair bonus mirrors France’s existing incentive for household appliance fixes. It pushes brands to improve traceability and fund textile reuse/recycling organizations. Empowering consumers to extend the lifecycle of garments also aligns with circular economy principles.
Rather than buy new, the clothes and shoe repair scheme provides a financial incentive for French residents to mend existing wardrobe items. Reducing waste is the priority as fashion aims to become more sustainable.