National Repair Day: Consumers rely on repairs instead of new purchases!

National Repair Day: Consumers rely on repairs instead of new purchases!

The National Repair Days, taking place October 16-19, 2025, aims to raise awareness about repairs of home appliances such as smartphones and washing machines. Activities are currently in full swing and are intended to promote repair practice. In the central Alsace region, industry representatives are observing a noticeable change in consumer awareness. Olivier Geiger from Extra – Radio Télé Ménager in Sélestat explains that there has been an increase in repair requests following the COVID-19 pandemic. Where previously many customers preferred to buy new devices - despite repair costs of up to 300 euros - many now decide against buying new devices, as new devices often cost between 900 and 1,000 euros. This decision to repair is understandable primarily for economic reasons, even if environmental protection considerations play a role.

A particularly interesting detail is that last year over 40,000 people took part in 1,120 events as part of this initiative. This shows that interest in sustainable solutions is high. As the initiators of the national repair days emphasize, the mobilization of researchers, associations, citizens, companies and municipalities is seen as essential in order to find innovative solutions. A pioneering step in this effort is the introduction in France of a new durability index that assesses the repairability of products. With 62% of the population knowing about this index and 68% believing it influences their purchasing decisions, the potential of this approach is evident.

The ecological and economic dimension

In the context of ecological necessity, it is becoming increasingly clear that our current economic model is unsustainable. According to the initiators, a reduction in waste and the environmental impact is essential. On average, a household contains around 2.5 tons of objects, which corresponds to 45 tons of extracted raw materials in production. This results in high CO₂ emissions and environmental pollution. A simple step – extending the useful life of objects by just three years – could save an astonishing 4 million tonnes of CO₂ and even enable savings of up to 2,000 euros per household.

A significant incentive for further development in this area comes from the future-oriented principles of the circular economy. These economic approaches, which aim to save resources and minimize waste, challenge traditional patterns of production and consumption. Instead of simply disposing of products at the end of their life, they should be kept in a closed cycle.

Opportunities in the circular economy

The circular economy has clear principles, the so-called “9 Rs”: Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacturing, Repurpose and Recycling. These approaches are intended to minimize resource consumption and at the same time relieve the burden on the environment. Institutions like Fraunhofer IWU are committed to research and developing solutions to promote the circular economy and integrate innovative recycling methods for a sustainable future.

The national repair initiative and focus on a sustainable economy do not appear to be just a temporary response to recent crises. Rather, they represent a fundamental step towards a more sustainable future. By both consumers and providers working together creatively, the vision of a circular economy can become reality. Further information and the entire program of the national repair days can be found on the event website and in detail at DNA and Fraunhofer IWU.