Preparing Your Business for the EU’s Right to Repair Regulation

Are you a business owner in the EU? Have you heard of the Right to Repair? New legislation can be a hassle to navigate. But, don’t you worry! COSH! is helping you to find out what’s important. The EU introduced this legislation in June 2024, and no member states have applied it to fashion products since the law was introduced. However, France has had their ​‘Repair Bonus’ for clothes since 2023. Making France a leader in the right to clothing repair. In addition, member states have to ratify the law by 2026. This directive aims to encourage consumers to repair their defective products and push manufacturers to make products that last longer and can be easily repaired, reused, or recycled. This way, the EU aims to reduce both waste and consumption, and to boost the repair industry. These objectives were derived from the EU’s plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050 as a part of the European Green Deal. 

Currently, this directive is mainly targeted towards the electronic sector for large household appliances and consumer electronics. But it also aims to push repairs in the clothing and textiles industry.

These are the key takeaways for you as a small entrepreneur:

1. Incorporate features like replaceable buttons and zippers.
2. Opt for reinforced seams and stronger construction techniques.
3. Avoid non-repairable elements such as glued or heat-bonded elements.

Under the Right to Repair directive, garments will need to be designed for longevity and ease of repair. Aligning this with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), means incorporating features like replaceable buttons, reinforced seams, and stronger construction. Avoiding non-repairable elements, such as glued or heat-bonded fabrics, should be kept in mind, as these significantly limit the products’ ability to be repaired or recycled. 

Looking ahead, future regulations are likely to require modular and standardised fastenings. This includes widely available components like zippers and buttons that can be easily removed and replaced. These elements should also be widely available to both consumers and professional repairers, so it’s useful to consider standard button sizes or zip lengths. Designing products by taking this into consideration not only meets future legal requirements but also supports a more circular and more sustainable production model.

Labelling

Brands will be required to include clear labelling on garments for consumers about the products’ expected lifespan, repairability, and the availability of spare parts such as fabrics, zippers, and buttons. These components must remain available for a certain number of years after the product is placed on the market (the exact timeframe is yet to be determined for textiles and footwear). 

Offer repair instructions

Additionally, access to repair instructions or tutorials should be available for consumers and professional repair services. This can be done via QR codes, websites, or printed manuals. 

This requirement empowers consumers and repairers to extend the products’ life. This transparency supports both more responsible consumption and builds trust between producers and consumers. 

What are the challenges?

Good news! As a circular, local designer, you may already be meeting all these requirements! And we are here to support you!

→ As a COSH! member, you can access your own personal ScreenMyStore portal to indicate all your repair services. You can even show consumers if you accept take-back items or donations, and if you offer resale options. These offerings will very soon appear in the COSH! app, guiding even more consumers to your local shop!

With the requirement of this directive, brands that are not yet offering these services may need to shift their logistics, as they will either need to offer repair services themselves or work with local repair networks and supply spare parts. 

COSH! Already has a wide network of local ateliers and designers that offer repair and garment care services, so we can easily connect you to start a collaboration!
Interested to know more? Mail your COSH! Community manager or book a meeting now!

You can further excel in it by not only offering repair services, but also offer repair kits, or even host repair workshops.
These services not only extend the life of the products but also create new business opportunities and are fantastic to deepen customer loyalty. By offering these solutions, you can actively support your products’ longevity. 

Moreover, for fashion brands in the EU, getting ahead with this sustainability regulation before its full enforcement can be a strategic opportunity. If your brand moves early and goes beyond the minimum legal requirements, for example, by offering repairs with fully recyclable materials and providing detailed traceability, you can position yourself as leader in this rapidly shifting market. 

You can also get even more support from your local government! The city of Amsterdam subsidises textile and shoe repairs with its City Pass (Stadspas). This pass provides a discount for people with a lower income when they visit a repair shop!

Ultimately, by investing in repair services, businesses can more easily have access to government subsidies or city partnerships that support circular initiatives. Moreover, embracing repairability will enhance your brand’s credibility and allow you to align with all the upcomming legislations such as the Right to Repair, ESPR, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). 

→ Link to more information on discounts with Stadspas

→ Link to repair spots in Amsterdam

→ link to repair spots in Hasselt

If you’re a COSH! Member, this is your chance to showcase your repair services directly in your personal COSH! Portal. This helps guide digital wardrobe users toward more responsible choices and is a simple step for you to boost visibility, build loyalty, and continue to support a circular future.