The Circular Economy Revolution: How Appliance Refurbishment is Reshaping Home Maintenance in 2025
The traditional “take-make-dispose” model of appliance ownership is rapidly becoming obsolete. The growing challenge of e-waste has led to companies devising sustainability initiatives around the appliance lifecycle. For example, in a Miele survey, three in four surveyed consumers trust circular appliances, and over 80% would consider refurbished spare parts. This shift represents more than just an environmental trend—it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we approach home maintenance and appliance ownership.
Understanding the Circular Economy in Appliance Repair
The circular economy offers a framework to mitigate these challenges through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2025), thereby promoting sustainable production and consumption, and minimizing health risks, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Unlike the linear economy model, the circular approach keeps appliances in use longer through strategic repair and refurbishment practices.
In most cases these devices are relatively recent, and up to 10% can be reused or refurbished in an ecologically and economically responsible manner. Moreover, between 15% and 30% of these machines contain functioning components that can be resold as spare parts or reused in the refurbishing process. This statistic reveals the enormous potential hiding in what we typically consider “broken” appliances.
The Economic Benefits of Appliance Refurbishment
For homeowners, the financial advantages of embracing refurbished appliances are substantial. Choosing to repair your appliance can lead to significant cost savings for consumers. Rather than investing thousands in brand-new appliances, consumers can access high-quality refurbished units at a fraction of the cost.
Customers can save money buying recovered appliances of which the price is lower than that of new ones. On the supply chain side, this initiative allows to decrease costs of disposal and the need for new materials. This creates a win-win scenario where both consumers and manufacturers benefit from reduced costs and resource consumption.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
The environmental benefits of appliance refurbishment extend far beyond simple waste reduction. When appliances are repaired and kept in use, it extends their lifespan, which reduces the amount of electronic waste generated. Electronic waste often contains hazardous materials that can harm the environment if not properly disposed of.
Repairing appliances helps reduce the demand for new products, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in the need for raw materials and energy-intensive manufacturing processes. For instance, repairing a faulty motor or pump of a washing machine can extend its lifespan by several years, which eliminates the need to manufacture a new washing machine.
Technology’s Role in Modern Refurbishment
Advanced technologies are revolutionizing the refurbishment process. The traditional refurbishing infrastructure will be enhanced using advanced data analytics and cognitive and assistive operator support. The efficiency will be validated through a pilot infrastructure installed at Circular.Brussels (contact person: Dennis Adriaenssens) targeting two representative appliances of the BSH appliances, namely washing machines and dishwashers.
These technological advances make refurbishment more efficient and cost-effective, enabling repair professionals to diagnose issues more accurately and restore appliances to like-new condition. For homeowners in Queens and surrounding areas, this means access to higher-quality refurbished appliances that perform as well as new ones.
The Growing Market for Refurbished Appliances
Providing more refurnished appliances helps families in energy poverty to replace energy-consuming household appliances and can cater to environmentally conscious and committed people, who consciously choose a refurbished appliance over a new one. This growing market segment represents both social responsibility and smart consumer choices.
The refurbishment industry is also creating new job opportunities. The Ri-Generation initiative also generates social benefits, since refurbishment is more labor-intensive than direct manufacturing. SERMIG, the charity association, collaborates with Astelav by providing people in social or economic difficulty, that can be employed as workers.
Local Impact and Community Benefits
For residents of Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, the circular economy movement offers unique advantages. Local refurbishment services reduce transportation costs and environmental impact while supporting regional employment. Just as a Central Vacuum in Queens, NY can provide decades of reliable service with proper maintenance, other refurbished appliances can offer similar longevity when professionally restored.
The circular economy model also supports local repair businesses, creating a more resilient community infrastructure. The findings emphasize the need for policy and industry action to diversify local repair economies, extending statutory warranty periods, support diagnostics and repair transparency, and incentivize repair businesses.
Choosing Quality in the Circular Economy
Success in the circular economy depends on partnering with reputable service providers who understand both sustainability and quality. Companies that have built their reputation on durability and long-term customer relationships are naturally aligned with circular economy principles. When choosing refurbished appliances or repair services, consumers should prioritize providers with established track records and comprehensive service offerings.
The Future of Home Maintenance
As we move further into 2025, the circular economy will continue reshaping how we think about home appliances. The right to repair movement is a crucial part of the broader effort to transition from a linear to a circular economy. One in which waste is minimised, products are kept in use longer, and demand for primary resources is reduced, lessening environmental pressures.
This transformation represents more than just an environmental initiative—it’s a fundamental shift toward more sustainable, economical, and community-focused home maintenance practices. By embracing refurbishment and repair over replacement, homeowners can reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and support local economies while maintaining the quality and performance they expect from their appliances.
The circular economy revolution in appliance maintenance is not just changing how we repair our homes—it’s creating a more sustainable future for everyone. As this movement continues to gain momentum, homeowners who embrace these practices will find themselves at the forefront of a more responsible and economical approach to home maintenance.