Businesses demand Government revamps legislation on refurbishment and reuse

A coalition of leading UK businesses, trade bodies, charities and community repair networks has written to Environment Secretary Steve Reed urging the government to scrap VAT on used devices and back stronger legislation supporting the repair, refurbishment and reuse of electrical goods.

Signatories to the letter include major names in retail and electronics such as Currys, Back Market, Beko, and Hotpoint, alongside organisations including AMDEA, Mobicde, Suez Recycling, The Repair Finder, The Restart Project, and several regional Repair Cafe networks.

They are calling for measures to reduce waste and build a repair economy capable of supporting green jobs and delivering on the UK’s net-zero targets.

The letter argues that boosting repair and reuse would benefit UK consumers by cutting costs, while also creating thousands of new jobs. It points to existing initiatives in other markets—such as France’s Repairability Index—as proven examples of how regulation can drive progress.

Key policy recommendations include expanding ecodesign regulations to cover more product categories, harmonising UK law with the EU’s right to Repair legislation, zero-rating VAT on repairs, repair incentives for households and businesses, and investment in training programmes to grow a new generation of repair technicians

The group estimates that scaling up repair could create 31,000 new jobs by 2035, rising to over 80,000 by 2040, and prevent up to 13 million items from being prematurely discarded each year.

Momentum

This intervention follows a period of rising political support for repair and reuse in Westminster. Since the creation of the Circular Economy Taskforce at the end of 2024, nearly 70 MPs have now signed a declaration backing action to extend product lifespans.

In March, repair campaigners were dismayed when electricals were excluded from the Taskforce’s original five areas of focus. However, after lobbying from within the sector and public pressure via MPs, electrical waste was added as a sixth priority in May.

In June, a Parliamentary Repair Cafe hosted by Back Market and attended by DEFRA Minister Mary Creagh showcased the practical benefits of repair initiatives. Shortly afterward, the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Environment called for a bold national strategy, echoing the demands of the business coalition.

Campaigners say that business support for reuse and repair has always existed, but hasn’t been clearly communicated to policymakers. This joint letter aims to change that perception and dispel the notion that the sector is resistant to reform.

With mounting environmental pressures and the UK ranking as the second highest producer of e-waste per capita, advocates say the government cannot afford to delay.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the letter concludes, “to deliver an ambitious roadmap for longer-lived electricals and build a truly circular economy.”

The coalition has pledged to continue working with government to ensure repair and reuse stay at the heart of the UK’s sustainability agenda.