In the transition to a circular economy, extending the lifespan of products is critically important. Circular economy models advocate maximizing “internal cycles” such as maintenance, repair, and reuse before recycling, because repair preserves the value of the energy and materials invested in the product. However, the long-term decline in repair activities in the industrialized world has made it necessary to examine the barriers and motivations to repair.

Repair behavior is not merely a technical process; it is a complex phenomenon shaped by a combination of material, infrastructural, psychological, and socio-economic factors. The Repair Motivation and Barriers Model developed by Terzioğlu (2021) addresses this process in three main dimensions: technical, emotional, and value-oriented. Based on Fogg’s behavioral model, this approach emphasizes that motivation, ability, and triggers must be present simultaneously for a behavior to occur.

The biggest technical barriers to repair are the design of products as “black boxes” and design features such as glued parts or special screws that do not allow user intervention. Hernandez et al. (2020) state that users abandon repairs due to a lack of spare parts, limited access to technical information, and repairs exceeding 20% ​​of the product’s cost. Furthermore, the repair process requires not only knowledge but also physical skills such as tool use and precise movement, as well as cognitive abilities such as risk assessment.

On an emotional level, repair is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, social stigma resulting from associating repaired products with “poverty” poses an obstacle; on the other hand, according to the principle that “labor leads love,” the effort expended in the repair process can strengthen the emotional bond with the product. As Onur Barış Zafer et al. (2025) point out, emotional value, shaped by individual experiences, plays a decisive role in the decision to repair. Emotional attachment to the product or the desire to view repair as a hobby/experiment are key elements that increase repair motivation. 

In conclusion, repair is a “healing” practice that repairs the alienated relationship the individual has with the object. Access to repair networks (social forums, repair cafes, etc.) for users and the design of products with detachable and transparent structures are essential for the resurgence of this practice. The task of design is to transform repair from a burden into an experience that restores the user’s right to intervene and promotes sustainable consumption.