Wondering what right-to-repair legislation will mean for the fashion industry? Read on to discover how brands can get prepared and the benefits of offering circular repair services.
With the EU’s recent adoption of the Right to Repair (R2R) Directive, extending the life of products by facilitating access to repair services is set to become the new normal for many brands.1 The legislation aims to make repair services more accessible, transparent and attractive – encouraging consumers to prioritise repair over replacement for damaged or defective goods.
And while the Directive currently is focused on household appliances and electronic goods, fashion may be the next industry to be brought within its scope. Indeed, the EU’s Strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, part of the New Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP),2 aims for a shift to ‘a climate-neutral circular economy – where products are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable and energy efficient’.
What is the Right to Repair Directive?
Originally presented in March 2023, the R2R Directive introduces a comprehensive set of policies, tools and incentives to make repair easier and more accessible for consumers. Setting new repairability requirements for a range of products, such as fridges and smartphones (in the first instance), it’s a key step towards facilitating greater circularity – theoretically helping to reduce the amount of goods sent to landfill each year.
But what does it mean for the fashion industry?
Although clothing, footwear and lifestyle products are currently outside the scope of the Directive, the European Commission has stated that ‘the list of repairable products may be extended in the future: whenever the Commission introduces new repairability requirements for specific products, these will be added to the R2R Directive’.
And given the focus on textile repairability in other related legislation, it may be beneficial for fashion brands to consider what R2R would look like for them. To predict what these requirements might be for fashion items, we can look at the measures outlined in the R2R Directive – as well as those included in related legislation such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Waste Framework Directive3 and the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (Directive 2024/825).
What does Right to Repair mean for fashion?
The R2R Directive sets out four key requirements for products falling within its scope:
- Mandatory repair offers: sellers must offer repair if it’s cheaper than replacement within the warranty period.
- Out-of-warranty repair rights: consumers can request repairs beyond the warranty period for technically repairable products.
- Online repair platform: a European online platform will be created to connect consumers with repair services and sellers of refurbished goods.
- Standardised repair information: producers must make repair information available on request.
In addition, Member States will have to incorporate provisions on the price and quality of repair services into their national legislation. They must transpose the Directive into national law within 24 months of its entry into force - in other words, by 19 June 2026.
It’s also important to consider the impact of related legislation. Take the ESPR, which specifically targets the fashion industry with a ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear,4 alongside measures to improve repairability at the production stage. Similarly, Directive 2024/825 requires Member States to introduce legislation requiring companies to provide consumers with information on the durability and repairability of products.
How can brands prepare for Right to Repair?
To prepare for the possible inclusion of fashion in the scope of the R2R Directive, there are a number of steps that brands can take. These include setting up consumer-facing repair services and providing repair instructions for products. As well as facilitating future compliance, these measures can help to improve consumer confidence.
Several brands are already adopting repair services. For example, luxury e-commerce company Farfetch has set up a ‘sell, donate and repair’ programme that allows consumers to send in used clothing and accessories in return for store credit.
Under the ESPR, brands will also have to disclose data on unsold consumer goods due to repairable and unrepairable defects. To facilitate this, a Digital Product Passport (DPP) scheme will be introduced. Setting up an efficient supply chain transparency solution now – for example, using RFID tags – can therefore streamline future compliance.
For more information on the sustainability regulations that already apply to the fashion industry and insights to guide your next steps, check out our other legislation blogs.
Take your first step towards improved repairability
While many fashion and lifestyle brands are looking to adopt more sustainable practices, it can be difficult to know where to start. Working with your logistics provider can be a practical solution. For example, we’ve developed RESCUE, a streamlined solution to help brands repair damaged returns to like-new condition – enabling them to be resold and avoiding waste. This can generate extra revenue, support compliance with existing legislation, such as the ESPR, as well as mitigating the financial losses associated with the disposal of damaged returns.
Designed as a first step towards circular business practices, RESCUE can be easily integrated into a fashion brand’s returns process. It can be added to the existing logistics services that Bleckmann provides to a brand, or set up as a stand-alone service.
When we introduced the service with online retailer Otrium, we rescued 50% of damaged goods. Within seven weeks, 70% of repaired goods were sold again. With RESCUE, fashion brands have a practical way to start their circular journey and get prepared for the requirements of R2R legislation.
Want to learn more about Right to Repair and how your brand can adopt practical circular solutions? Get in touch with our experts for a free consultation.
