Repair is often seen as a cornerstone of the circular economy. In theory, extending the life of products should be an obvious choice, saving money, reducing waste, and limiting environmental impact. Yet in practice, many consumers still choose to replace rather than repair.
Recent studies across Europe and the Euro-MED region reveal a complex picture shaped by awareness, habits, and structural barriers.
Awareness is growing but uneven
Consumers in EU countries tend to have a stronger understanding of circular economy concepts than those in neighbouring regions. Education plays a role, as does gender, with men often reporting higher perceived knowledge. However, awareness does not always translate into action.
Younger generations and women are generally more engaged in circular behaviours such as buying second-hand products, suggesting that values and lifestyle trends may be just as important as knowledge.
Repair: a positive idea, less common practice
Across Europe, most consumers report experiencing product breakdowns and many do attempt repairs—especially for large household appliances. There is also a notable culture of do-it-yourself repair for smaller items and electronics.
Still, a consistent gap remains between positive attitudes and actual behaviour. For example, in France, a large majority of people view repair favourably, yet only a minority choose it when faced with a broken product.
The real barriers
Despite differences between countries, the same obstacles appear again and again. Repair is often seen as too expensive, inconvenient, or uncertain compared to buying new.
The most common barriers include:
- High repair costs
- Limited availability of spare parts or skilled professionals
- Low trust in repair services
- The appeal of newer, more advanced products
In some cases, even repair professionals recommend replacement, reinforcing the perception that repair is not worth the effort.
Skills, confidence and convenience
Beyond cost, confidence plays a major role. Consumers are far more likely to repair products if they feel capable of doing so or have access to clear instructions and tools. While many people express interest in learning repair skills, a lack of practical knowledge still holds them back.
Convenience is equally important. Long waiting times, unclear pricing, and difficulty finding reliable services can quickly push consumers toward replacement instead.
What motivates people to repair?
Even with these challenges, there are strong motivations encouraging repair. Financial savings remain the most powerful driver, but they are closely followed by environmental concerns and the desire to extend a product’s life.
For some, repair also brings intangible benefits such as satisfaction, creativity, or emotional attachment to a product.
Bridging the gap
The findings highlight a clear paradox: consumers generally support the idea of repair, but structural and practical barriers prevent them from acting on it.
Closing this gap will require making repair:
- More affordable
- Easier to access
- More trustworthy
Better product design, clearer information, stronger repair networks, and opportunities to build repair skills could all play a role in shifting behaviour.
A culture shift in the making
Europe is gradually moving toward a more repair-oriented economy, supported by policy initiatives and growing consumer awareness. But real change will depend on turning positive attitudes into everyday habits.
Making repair the default, not the exception, remains one of the key challenges for a truly circular future.
If you want to read more about it, check out the REPper Transnational Analysis of Behaviours to be Changed.
