“I will repair whenever possible rather than throw away and replace.” FACT: 2020 was the year in which the weight of “human-made mass”—all the stuff we’ve built and accumulated—exceeded the weight of biomass on the planet. Source
“Repair Everything” first appeared in our newsletter Jan 7, 2021. One year later we think the message is worth repeating.
- Repair saves you money, leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment and allows you to preserve treasured heirlooms.
- Repair is good for the environment. Combined with proper end-of-life recycling it reduces waste and reduces the need for new raw materials.
- Repair creates good green local jobs. If you are not a DIY kind of person, you can support a growing number of repair shops. Yes, this is a thing. Track these repair shops down and support them.
Many manufacturers have been trying to make repair difficult; some even trying to take the right to repair away. We should have the right to repair our own stuff.
A Canadian right-to-repair debate update: Bill C-272, A bill that seeks to finally tip the scales in favour of repair passed unanimously after 2nd reading June 2, 2021 and has been stalled in committee ever since. Talk to your MP. In Ontario Bill 72, A Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Right to Repair Electronic Products) was defeated after 2nd reading in May of 2019.
For more information about repair, iFixit is still a great place to start. And of course, there are DIY videos to help you through almost any repair on YouTube. (Another tip: When you do buy new, buy goods made to last, are repairable and, at the end of their life, recyclable.)
Resources
- Repair is noble – iFixit
- A Canadian Right to Repair bill sees 330-0 vote, as measure clears key hurdle — The Repair Association
A look back at three of our previous repair/circular economy challenges
Repair Everything | A Stitch In Time – Mend Your Clothes | Support the circular economy
Return to New Challenges List