Clothes or shoes, a bonus to the ” repair “ textile goods must be set up ” starting at October “ to encourage customers to have them patched rather than buying new, announced Tuesday, July 11 the Secretary of State for Ecology, Bérangère Couillard. “From October, consumers will be able to be supported in the repair of their clothes and [de leurs] shoes “explained Ms. Couillard during a visit to Paris of the premises of an incubator dedicated to responsible fashion, La Caserne.
Ce “repair bonus” of the textile sector will be endowed with a fund of 154 million euros over the period 2023-2028, the office of the Secretary of State had previously explained to Agence France-Presse. The pricing of the aid offered must be between 6 and 25 euros, explained Ms. Couillard on Tuesday.
The aid could be, for example, 7 euros to redo a heel, and reach 10 to 25 euros for a lining. These will be discounts applied directly to the repair invoice.
The Secretary of State “invites all sewing workshops and shoemakers to join the system, to be labeled” by the Refashion eco-organization which manages the fund and the label for the State. “The goal is to support all those who do the repairs”detailed Ms. Couillard, referring to the workshops, but “also the signs” who offer this service, with the hope of “recreate jobs”.
“700,000 tons of clothing every year”
In France, 3.3 billion pieces of clothing, shoes and pieces of household linen were put on the market in 2022, i.e. 500,000 more than in 2021, according to the Refashion organization which was commissioned by the government. to support industry towards a more circular economy.
The French “throw away 700,000 tons of clothes every year”reminded Ms. Couillard, specifying that two-thirds “end up in landfills”. On the model of the household appliance repair bonus, the aid is part of a vast reform of the textile sector, one of the most polluting industries on the planet, initiated by the government since the end of 2022.
Among its objectives: to force brands to have more traceability, to financially support organizations specializing in the reuse and second life of clothing, or to structure a recycling sector. The reform provided for by the anti-waste law for a circular economy (Agec law) is based in particular on the billion euros of eco-contributions from producers, importers and distributors which should be released over the period 2023-2028 by virtue of the principle of ” polluter pays “.