French to get bonus to make do and mend clothes

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🗞️ Driving the news: France is initiating a bonus scheme from October to incentivize consumers to repair their old clothes and shoes instead of discarding them
• The government is contributing €154m to fund the bonus over five years, the new scheme will offer discounts ranging from €6 to €25 per repair, such as €7 for a new heel and €10-€25 for new garment lining

🔭 The context: Junior Ecology Minister Bérangère Couillard highlighted that 700,000 tonnes of clothing go to landfill in France annually
• The new scheme, aiming to counter this, will offer discounts ranging from €6 to €25 per repair, such as €7 for a new heel and €10-€25 for new garment lining

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The initiative promotes a more circular economy, discouraging "fast fashion" and the resultant waste
• The idea is to encourage more sustainable consumption practices which will have a positive impact on the environment

⏭️ What's next: Starting 1 January 2024, the French clothing industry will be required to follow new labelling rules that specify the environmental impact of each item, including the amount of water and chemicals used during production, potential microplastic emissions, and use of recycled textiles

💬 One quote: "The government is committed to tackling 'fast fashion' and seeks to encourage consumers to buy more 'virtuous' products and repair them, rather than buying new items" (Bérangère Couillard, Junior Ecology Minister)

📈 One stat: Last year, 3.3 billion items of clothing, footwear, and household textiles were introduced to the market in France

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