500,000 tons of appliances are discarded every year in France. 60% of breakdowns in large appliances are due to improper use or maintenance of the equipment. Even though 80% of breakdowns could be repaired, only 40% of products are brought to a repairer, either due to a lack of professionals or simply because it doesn't come to mind. These striking figures are the starting point for the creation of the association Un Nouveau Cycle.
“Appliances resonate with everyone; they affect everyone, and they are a great vehicle for conveying messages and addressing certain topics, such as energy, resource conservation, and purchasing power,” explains Kareen Maya Levy.
A significant step has been taken in this direction with the AGEC law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy). We can count on the repair bonus. There are incentives to encourage consumers to buy more durable and repairable products. Yet, it is still not enough to drive change.
So, along with her colleagues at Un Nouveau Cycle, Kareen Maya Levy has the idea of not waiting until a breakdown occurs but acting proactively to prevent it. “And here, we completely change the paradigm and set ourselves the mission of evolving behaviors.”
However, finding a repairer is essential. “This is what led us from the environmental aspect to the social aspect,” recounts Kareen Maya Levy. So the team decided to train people for a new profession, that of preventive maintenance technician. And since the goal is to target the audience that needs it most, in the social housing of priority neighborhoods, why not reach out to them there?
“These are groups distanced from employment, and we will particularly target young people who are seeking meaning, who would not spontaneously gravitate towards repair training because they do not see themselves as legitimate,” explains Kareen Maya Levy. “We will also seek out women who are not necessarily offered technical jobs. And we will also look for young seniors who may have exited the workforce a bit too early relative to retirement age and who could thrive in a role that is both service-oriented and technical.”
A collaborative effort that involves institutions, such as employment reintegration support structures, waste valorization actors, and local repairers. “And that’s how we will gain strength and change people's lives,” enthuses Kareen Maya Levy. “We change the lives of those we train by offering them new perspectives. And we will also create connections with our clients and change their relationship with their products. And all of this is exciting.”
