No more letting the French throw away their worn clothes and shoes. From this Tuesday, it is now possible to benefit from a “repair bonus” for textiles, on the same model as that which already exists for certain electrical goods and household appliances. Its creation was announced last July by Bérangère Couillard, Secretary of State for Ecology who has since become Minister Delegate for Equality between Women and Men, during a visit to La Caserne, an incubator dedicated to responsible fashion in Paris.
Provided for by the anti-waste law for a circular economy (Agec), this bonus will be financed by a fund with 154 million euros between 2023 and 2028. It will entitle you to aid of between 6 euros and 25 euros. Allow 7 euros to redo a heel and up to 25 euros for a lining, from designers and shoemakers who have requested to be certified by the eco-organization Refashion, which is piloting the project for the State. These discounts will be applied directly to the repair invoice. “The goal is to support all those who carry out repairs,” detailed Bérangère Couillard, referring to the workshops but “also the brands” which offer this service with the hope of “recreating jobs”.
Also read: Household appliances, high-tech: the French are increasingly fond of repairs
In France, 3.3 billion items of clothing, shoes and household linen were put on the market in 2022, or 500,000 more than in 2021, according to Refashion. The French “throw away 700,000 tonnes of clothing each year”, Bérangère Couillard recalled in July, and two thirds “end up in landfills”. Determined to reverse the trend, the minister went to war against fast fashion, and the “immense damage” caused by the “Shein model”, this Chinese company which is a hit with teenagers. This model is “destructive for our planet, for the human conditions of the countries that host their production and also destructive for the textile sector, which may not recover,” assured Bérangère Couillard.
