In an effort to stop wastage and create more employment, the French government has introduced a scheme to encourage people to repair and mend old clothes instead of buying new ones.

Whenever a person gets their clothes repaired they will earn back between €6 and €25 out of what they paid. The government has already set up a €154m fund for the purpose.

The per capita consumption of textiles in France amounts to 10.5 kgs. This leads to 700,000 tonnes of clothing being sent to waste every year. A big factor is ‘fast fashion’ where people people ditch old clothes for new trends as soon as they arrive.

By introducing the measure, the government also hopes to create jobs by encouraging clothes sellers to offer repair services as well.

The French government is trying to reform the textile sector which is one of the largest pollutants on the planet.

It is also part of wider push to encourage donation and recycling. A Guardian report said that 56% clothes can make useful donations and 32% can be recycled into something new.

France is already pushing measures to encourage people to have their household appliances repaired instead of buying new ones. The measures regarding clothing have followed in a similar vein.