France's Decree 2024-123: Promoting Repair for Textiles and Footwear
Starting July 1, 2024, distributors covered by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in France’s Textiles, Household Linen, and Footwear sector must ensure customers are informed about the existence of a Repair Fund and relevant repair bonuses. Communication to consumers must be clear, easily accessible, and consistent across both in-store and online sales channels, as mandated by Decree 2024-123, related to the renowned AGEC law.
Why France is Prioritizing Repairs
Every year, countless textiles and shoes are discarded due to minor damage - holes, broken zippers, or frayed seams—that can often be easily repaired. Instead of contributing to overflowing landfills, France’s Decree 2024-123 encourages consumers to opt for repair solutions, thereby extending the life cycle of products and promoting sustainable consumption. This initiative complements the broader goals of reducing the environmental footprint of the textile industry, which is one of the leading contributors to waste and carbon emissions globally.
The decree takes a proactive stance, offering incentives to consumers and imposing obligations on producers and distributors. Here's a closer look at how it works.
Key Provisions of Decree 2024-123
1. Who Does This Impact?
The decree applies explicitly to distributors operating under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in France. If your business produces, imports, or markets textiles, household linens, or footwear, you fall under the scope of this new regulation.
2. Products Covered
The regulation includes a wide range of products, such as:
- Textiles (clothing items, accessories, etc.)
- Household linens (sheets, towels, etc.)
- Footwear (from casual sneakers to work boots)
3. Core Obligations
Businesses subject to the decree are required to inform their customers about the availability of a Repair Fund, an initiative designed to subsidize repair costs for consumers. The main communication points are as follows:
- Provide clear information about the Repair Fund and available bonuses.
- Ensure visibility of this information at physical and digital sales points.
- The information must be legible, accessible, and easy to understand.
- Re_fashion provides ready-to-use files. You can create your own, without using the Re_fashion logo. This communication kit is usable by Re_fashion members only.
4. Penalties for Non-Compliance
The decree imposes strict penalties for businesses that fail to meet their obligations under EPR. Penalties include:
- Administrative fines of up to €1,500 per unit or ton for individuals and €7,500 for legal entities.
- Daily penalties of up to €20,000, applied until full compliance is achieved.
Why Repair Is the Future of Fashion
Repair is a pivotal step toward a circular fashion model. By enabling consumers to repair rather than replace damaged items, your brand can play a crucial role in reducing waste and resource consumption. Repair services extend the lifespan of products, enhance customer satisfaction, and foster a long-term relationship with consumers who value sustainability.
France’s Repair Fund further facilitates this process by providing financial incentives to consumers, making repairs more affordable and accessible. For brands, this is an excellent opportunity to showcase their commitment to sustainability while adhering to compliance.
How Trimco Group Supports Your Brand with Compliance
With a focus on compliance, sustainability, and innovation, Trimco Group, your trusted partner in your circularity journey, offers tools and support to ensure brands meet their EPR obligations while promoting repair as a viable alternative to waste, including support navigating a regulation like the Decree 2024-123.
1. Repair Promotion Made Simple
Trimco Group assists brands in creating communication tools to share information about the Repair Fund with their customers. While the responsibility for compliance ultimately lies with the brands, our support helps streamline this process with tailored solutions aligned with your branding.
2. Sustainability Leadership
Beyond regulatory compliance, Trimco Group emphasizes driving real change in the fashion industry through circular economy initiatives. Our solutions encourage repair adoption, helping brands align with France’s Climate and Resilience requirements.
3. Innovation for the Circular Economy
Our offerings include tech-enabled solutions, such as QR code integrations, that enable customers to easily access essential product and repair information. This not only aids in compliance but also enhances the customer experience for sustainability-minded consumers.
Are you ready to take the next step in your circular economy journey? Contact Trimco Group today.
Sources:
https://refashion.fr/pro/en/repair-fund-newest-obligations
https://entreprendre.service-public.fr/vosdroits/F37937