New research from University College London (UCL), commissioned by Material Focus, has found that increasing washing machine repair rates could deliver a triple win by lowering household costs, boosting regional economies and reducing environmental impact.
The study found that although 65% of respondents said they would prefer to repair a faulty washing machine, 40% reported having replaced a washing machine at some point without first considering repair, highlighting a gap between intention and action where replacement often becomes the default.
69% of washing machine disposals are attributed to functional failures, many of which are technically repairable. Practical barriers can make replacement feel like the easier option. Consumers often struggle to find trusted repair services, while both consumers and technicians report difficulties accessing manuals, technical documentation, and spare parts. Additionally, uncertainty regarding repair costs, timelines, and expected outcomes makes informed decision-making challenging.
Convenience is another critical factor. When a washing machine breaks down and laundry accumulates, the urgent need for a working appliance often prompts households to purchase a replacement rather than seek repair.
For washing machines priced at £300 or more (below the average purchase price of £370 used in the study) repair was consistently more cost-effective than replacement. The research found increasing repair rates could extend the average life of a washing machine by around four years, reducing household spending on appliances over the 20-year period modelled.
Even where a newer washing machine offered efficiency gains, the resulting lifetime savings were negligible and did not offset the cost of replacing a repairable machine.
Building consumer trust
Previous positive repair experience was one of the strongest predictors of future behaviour, with people who had repaired an appliance before significantly more likely to do so again.
Building trust will be central to growing the repair economy. The report calls for better access to technical information and spare parts, and accreditation for skilled repairers, all of which could give people greater confidence in choosing repair.
An opportunity for businesses and local economies
Growing the repair industry could support skilled roles across engineering, maintenance, refurbishment, logistics and spare-parts management. These jobs are often locally based and difficult to offshore, helping to keep skills and spending within communities across the UK.
The modelling also found that repair services could provide profitable, recurring income for manufacturers and retailers, while helping them build longer-term relationships and trust with their customers.
Better for the planet
Higher repair rates were associated with lower levels of e-waste and reduced carbon footprint across the appliance lifecycle.
Historically, over 80% of a washing machine’s environmental impact came from the electricity, water and detergent used during its lifetime. But the balance has shifted as the UK electricity grid has become cleaner and the impact of running machines has fallen.
The materials and energy used to make a washing machine, along with the impact of disposing of it, therefore account for a significant part of its overall environmental footprint. The carbon footprint of repairing and refurbishing a washing machine is less than one-tenth of the footprint associated with manufacturing a new one.
Work is already underway across the industry. Manufacturers and retailers are investing in repair centres and engineer training, while domestic appliance trade association, AMDEA, is developing a national accreditation scheme to assess and recognise independent repairers’ skills. Together these initiatives could increase repair, giving consumers greater confidence.
Scott Butler, Executive Director at Material Focus, said: “The good news is people want to repair their washing machines, and the research shows that doing so can save money. Making repair easier and more accessible is a triple win. It can lower household costs, create new economic opportunities and reduce environmental impact.”
At Material Focus, we work with partners to encourage repair and reuse, and we’re always keen to hear from more organisations that want to work with us. If a washing machine can’t be repaired, people should head to the postcode locator on the Recycle Your Electricals website to help find their nearest reuse or recycling point
Prof Mark Miodownik at UCL, said: “Our research clearly demonstrates that extending the lifespan of household appliances through repair is one of the most effective ways to reduce their overall environmental impact. As manufacturing and material extraction account for a growing share of a machine’s carbon footprint, choosing repair over replacement is vital for reducing pollution, increasing UK jobs and accelerating our transition to a truly circular economy.”
Stefan Hay at AMDEA, the UK Home Appliance Association, said: “Our producer members recognise that there’s a real opportunity to work together across the sector to make repair easier and more accessible, and to build greater confidence for consumers in the repair system.”
“That’s why AMDEA is developing a national scheme to assess and recognise appliance engineers’ skills, helping consumers feel more confident about getting their appliances repaired.”
As part of the study, UCL researchers visited Beko’s repair and refurbishment centre in Peterborough to examine how manufacturers actively support repair initiatives.
Andrew Mullen, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, at Beko said: “At Beko, we’re committed to repair, so it’s encouraging to see such strong consumer interest in it.
“Ultimately, whoever carries out the repair, we want it to be safe, high-quality and long-lasting. We invest heavily in training and supporting our engineers to meet high standards and to deliver a professional, efficient service that keeps customers happy.”
The UCL Big Repair Project: Making appliance repair easier for everyone report available here, funded by Material Focus.
Photo credit: UCL Plastic Waste Innovation Hub
About Material Focus
Material Focus is the non-profit leading the Recycle your Electricals campaign. Electrical waste is the fastest growing source of waste in the world, and in the UK. When electricals are binned, or stashed away in our homes, we lose some of the most precious materials on our planet, such as lithium, copper and gold. These materials are essential for the way we live now, and in the future- from smart tech and AI, to the metals inside life-saving equipment, renewable energy, and our home and business energy systems.
Material Focus is working with organisations and the public to save these materials by providing insights and research, making it easier to recycle by funding recycling and re-use projects, and inspiring nationwide public action through our award-winning Recycle Your Electricals campaign. We are building a thriving circular electrical economy, where fixing, donating, selling and recycling electricals is the norm, and valuable materials are never wasted.
Material Focus is funded by producers of electrical appliances through the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. The UK government sets annual targets for the recycling of all waste electricals, and if producers of electricals don’t meet this target, they contribute towards Material Focus’s funding.
About University College London
UCL is one of the world’s top universities delivering excellence in research, innovation, education and impact. The Circular Materials & Society Hub, who carried out this project, are an interdisciplinary research group including materials science, engineering, behaviour science, environmental science and systems analysis experts. They work with companies, governments and 3rd sector organisations to help explore more sustainable uses of materials.
One of our friendly team will be happy to help.
