Repair sector calls for political support

As 2027 approaches, the repair sector is cautiously speaking out about the need for political support and funding. At the opening conference of the National Repair Days, held on October 15, 2026, professionals in the sector made a clear assessment that while sustainability and repairability issues have permeated society, they struggle to find concrete political translation.

Public awareness grows but political will lags

Among the general public, many indicators are green. According to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, 62 percent of the French know the reparability index and two-thirds use it to guide their purchases. Additionally, 91 percent of the population has a good image of repair, according to Ecosystem. The cultural battle is therefore being won, but political will is still lacking.

Repair sector outlines 40 measures for 2027

To get out of this torpor, the association intends to capitalize on the current "political momentum" and has just published 40 measures for the environment and consumers by 2027 in order to influence the next five-year term. The stress related to the upcoming presidential election is beginning to be felt, with some stating, "I know I have a job until next May, but after that..." Funding for the social and solidarity economy has become scarce, and teams capable of carrying out large-scale projects are shrinking year by year.

Political shifts threaten funding for repair initiatives

The case of the Pays de la Loire, where 500 jobs were destroyed between July and December 2025 according to the Cress (Regional Chamber of the Social and Solidarity Economy), has drawn attention. The shift of France to the far right could exacerbate this dynamic, as the party of Marine Le Pen proposes the reduction of subsidies for associations not related to the general interest and to reduce by 20 percent the financial allocations to certain state agencies.

Local officials propose repair-focused policies

To reverse the trend, some elected officials propose more or less concrete paths. Pierre Lombard, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of cleanliness, sanitation, waste reduction, and the circular economy, wants to mobilize the "subversive power of repair against large capitalist companies." The capital will thus focus on training and propose extra-curricular "housework" times, particularly emphasizing repair in a gender equality logic.

Repairability linked to AI and environmental risks

David Cormand, European deputy (The Ecologists), drew a parallel between the issues related to repairability and those related to the development of artificial intelligence, stating that "it contributes to a dispossession in our relationship to what we produce and consume." He warned that if we continue like this, we are heading towards something nightmarish, totalitarian and destructive for the environment.

Data sharing and policy steering needed

On the ground, structures have recalled the importance of cooperation, whether at the level of resources or the sharing of data. Many actors have indeed called for a real steering of public policies through data. Clément Ivanovitz, quality, safety, and environment manager at Envie, said, "It would be super if we could have feedback on all the data from all the repairers."

Challenges in implementing repair initiatives

The idea of creating repair sales, a kind of sanctified parenthesis in the calendar to encourage repair, was also mentioned, but material challenges quickly took over. Difficulty of access to training, high cost of land, or the rise in the price of gasoline, which increases the cost of home interventions, were cited as issues. Gilles Saint-Didier, deputy president of Fedelec, confirmed that "the cost of transport is a major expense."

Repair sector creates jobs but needs investment

According to Ademe, the reemployment sector has already created 75,000 jobs only within the perimeter of consumer goods and equipment. However, "you have to invest first before you get the benefits," says Anne-Charlotte Bonjean, coordinator responsible for the sustainability of equipment and resources at Ademe. Not knowing what they will be served, the actors of the circular economy are not yet clearly positioning themselves in one camp or another for the 2027 battle.

Uncertainty and cautious optimism ahead

During the 2024 legislative elections, many structures ended up taking a stand against the far right, notably HOP, which noted that "[its] project, as an association, seems seriously threatened." In 2026, Laetitia Vasseur is cautious: "We must hope for better days. That the needs are heard and the responses are up to the task."