FIGARO DEMAIN – The repairability index, which is gaining ground this Friday, is boosting an entire sector, which is diversifying its modes of intervention.
Room for repair. Provided for by the anti-waste law for a circular economy, a repairability index has since the beginning of 2021 given a score out of 10 to different products, according to their ease of dismantling, the availability of spare parts and their price. Since November 4, in household appliances, not only manufacturers of porthole washing machines but also top-loading ones, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and high-pressure cleaners are required to display this index on their product sheet. Not to mention that an assistance fund for the repair of household appliances should soon be created. The objective of the government, which has also launched the “long life for objects” website on repair: that 60% of electrical and electronic devices will be repaired in 2025.
Because repairing a washing machine in the event of a breakdown saves 100 kilos in CO equivalent2or 390 kilometers traveled by car, according to a study by Ademe in 2020. The sector could thus save more than 23 million tonnes of waste per year.
66% savings compared to a buyout
Not to mention that it is more economical for the consumer to repair in the event of a breakdown: 141 euros against 368 euros on average to buy a new household appliance, a saving of 66%, according to a study by Murfy.
Enough to boost an entire industry. The start-up Murfy, which has made a name for itself in the home appliance repair market alongside traditional manufacturers and distributors, can only be pleased with this, claiming 120% growth by year. “The repair has regained its letters of nobility. We don’t even have enough repairers to meet all the demand,” recognizes Guy Pezaku, its co-founder, who plans to increase from 150 technicians to 400 by the end of 2023. on the purchase price of the new product. A price all the more reduced as Murfy offers a whole range of refurbished equipment, like Back Market and even a more traditional player such as Boulanger.
Read also“Repairability”, a revolution for household appliances
But it must be recognized that the levels of repairability depend on the products. According to Murfy, 39% of repairs in the sector concern washing machines and 33% dishwashers, the appliances most repaired by the French. And of that total, more than half are self-repairing (52%), according to a study by Spareka based on the Repairability Index database. This is explained by easy access to spare parts. 19% of French people repair their devices themselves, according to Ademe. A niche of self-repair on which the specialists in the sale of spare parts SOS Accessoire (since 2008) and Spareka (since 2012) have turned, feeling the prospects open up. “We have been focusing on self-repair for five years by offering videos, tutorials and a chatbot”, explains Olivier de Montlivault, founder of SOS Accessory, which claims growth of 25% to 50% each year.
Video troubleshooting
“Consumers are turning to this solution under financial constraint. CSPs – are overrepresented among our clients”, he explains. Faced with the shortage of repairers and to contain the costs of its customers, Spareka has even launched a remote troubleshooting offer, in video, on the model of telemedicine. Out of 10,000 videoconferences, 75% led to the repair of the device, including 25% without replacement of a spare part. Finally, to raise awareness among the new generation, Ademe and Spareka organize introductory repair workshops in colleges. The replacement is almost ready.
Society, health, environment, education, energy
» Discover the actors and initiatives of change in Le Figaro tomorrow