The ministry’s ‘Repairing instead of throwing away’ funding programme aims to extend the life of products and save resources. The programme promotes a culture of repairing instead of throwing away and wants to ensure that people have a greater appreciation of products and materials.

Repair Cafés as important cornerstone of the right to repair

German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke sees Repair Cafés as an important cornerstone of the right to repair. “They are places of civic participation where the environment is actively protected”, she said.

Initially, only Repair Cafés that are officially registered as non-profit organisations will receive funding. In the next phase, the programme will be opened up to Repair Cafés that are not organised in this way.

Funding in line with European right to repair

The move is in line with European agreements on the right to repair. The legal text, adopted in April 2024, states that EU member states should take additional measures to promote repair. For example, they can support civic repair initiatives by providing space or funding training so that more people can learn to make repairs.

More information

• Read the German Environment Ministry’s press release on the new subsidy (in German)
• Also read the FAQ on the ‘Repairing instead of throwing away’ subsidy programme on the German Environment Ministry’s website (in German)
• Read more about additional EU measures to promote repair (in English)

Het bericht Funding for German Repair Cafés verscheen eerst op Repaircafe.