What we achieve

The REPper project objective is to develop the culture of repair by offering concrete responses to multi-layer challenges: the creation of new sustainable business opportunities, the upskilling in green job sectors and a change of mindset by promoting the circular approach. Using a “closed loop” strategy, REPper aims to act at horizontal level and reach a wide target through: technical support to SMEs, specific training for trainers and change in the attitude of policymakers and consumers through behavioural nudging.

1. Increasing awareness among SMEs and start-ups of the importance of considering repair in business models and production
Businesses need to rethink and redesign their products and processes from the ground up, starting from eco-design, sustainable business ideas and plans towards the “repair approach” and wider circular economy. SMEs can make fast and independent value chain decisions and their embracing principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability is crucial to act as innovation drivers. To do so, SMEs and start-ups need access to support services designed and tested to deal specifically with these issues.

2. Strengthening green reskilling and upskilling
There must be a revolution within occupational categories, as the rethinking of productive models deeply changes jobs: all of manual, practical and highly qualified skills are necessary. Product repair training must provide deep technical knowledge of new materials, new logistics flows, new technologies, innovative product design processes… In addition, circular economy competences should include transversal skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Finding your way in such a composite panorama of needed skills is not simple, and all levels of decision chain require capacity building.

3. Changing consumer behaviour by making repair choice more appealing
The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for a change of mindset in society. Mainstreaming it to promote sustainable consumption and behavioural change remains a challenge; on the one hand, at local and national government level, providing direction and enabling conditions, on the other, at civil society and consumer level, encouraging circular choices. Rules and regulations in the framework of the “right to repair” are essential, however they must come with soft policies for a lasting change in consumer behaviour. The most sustainable choice should also be made the easiest one and all market players should act as enablers of this process.