Materials are not the only thing that can become circular – knowledge can, too. Research into product failures has helped Decathlon develop tools that guide designers toward more repairable products. Now, its Repairability Index is set to be shared across the outdoor industry.

For the past 50 years, every Decathlon store has had its own repair workshop. Historically, these were mainly used for bike repairs. But in 2021, the French government required the development of a standardized repairability index for selected electronic products, including TVs and smartphones, allowing customers to see how easily a product could be repaired if it broke.

Emmanuel Sultan, Repairability Project Manager at Decathlon’s headquarters in Lille, France, says:

“Outdoor products were not among the selected categories, but our company chose to develop a similar methodology.”

At the time, knowledge of why and how outdoor products failed was fragmented. Sultan and his colleagues saw the need for a systematic approach – with design teams involved from an early stage.

Decathlon began by researching fabrics, buckles, zippers, threads and other components, as well as the availability of spare parts. Customer returns were analyzed alongside lab and field test results, and the company collaborated with specialists such as United Repair Centre.

Decathlon’s sub-brands were also involved. Mattias Schul, who heads the repair project at Quechua and Simond, explains:

“We also needed to factor in price. From our research, we found that customers are prepared to pay around 30 percent of the price of a brand-new product for a repair. High repair costs are prompting design teams to focus on DIY solutions. Providing customers with easy access to parts and instructions helps offset expensive labor.”

Deeper insights into the causes of product failure were translated into new guidelines for Decathlon’s design teams. But dealing with a diverse product range would quickly prove a challenge.

Repairability index for sports and outdoor products

To overcome this hurdle, Decathlon developed a standardized and streamlined internal tool to support designers.

Sultan explains:

“It’s like a simulation, where the designer can see how different material choices and design solutions will affect the product’s final repairability score. We align our methodology with the French government’s repairability index, since we believe outdoor products will also be covered in the future.”

Decathlon has set a goal for 2030: products representing 25 percent of the company’s turnover should have a repairability index.

Sultan continues:

“We are on track. After a big acceleration this year, we have reached more than 10 percent. So far, 700 products across 130 product categories have been evaluated.”

Empowering customers to repair products themselves

Another key insight from the development process was that customers also need to be part of the solution. Mattias Schul says:

“For many buyers, using a repair center will seem too expensive when something breaks. We must empower them to make their own repairs, with DIY guides, tutorials and other information, especially when it comes to entry-level products.”

In parallel, Decathlon has begun sharing its methodology and tools with other outdoor companies through a working group initiated by the European Outdoor Group. He adds:

“We share it as open source, and it’s been welcomed by many. There are a lot of design teams within the industry that have wanted to address repairability but haven’t had the tools to do so before.”

Lead Photo: Decathlon