"Repair Cafe by Ilvy Njiokiktjien" by Ilvy Njiokiktjien is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
"Repair Cafe by Ilvy Njiokiktjien" by Ilvy Njiokiktjien is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Tips and inspiration
- You don’t always have to buy a replacement when you’re having laptop troubles or your vacuum cleaner has lost its suction. First try taking it down to your local repair cafe and see if someone can help you fix it.
- A repair cafe is a regular, free, community-based event where people can bring broken items to be repaired by volunteers.
- Find a local repair cafe or group.
The big picture
Extending the lifespan of smartphones and other electronics by just one year would save the EU the same amount in carbon emissions as taking two million cars off the roads for a year.
Source: Cool products don’t cost the Earth Report, European Environmental Bureau
Why is this action beneficial?
Save money
Repairing things you own can cost far less than replacing them. Repair cafes are often free, though voluntary donations are appreciated to help with running costs. It’s also a good first step before paying to have it fixed by a professional, as most problems are easy to repair.
Reduce waste
Repairing an appliance keeps it from ending up in landfill, which is especially important for electronic waste. By extending the life of your appliances, you conserve resources and reduce demand for new production.
Learn a new skill
Repair cafes are designed to be educational, with volunteers who guide you through the repair process. This hands-on learning helps you to develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to tackle similar repairs in the future.
Strengthen community
Repair cafes bring together neighbours, repair enthusiasts, and volunteers, creating a supportive environment for learning and collaboration. Building this self-sufficiency in your community can reduce your reliance on big manufacturing companies.
Advocate for others
A lot of our electronics are made in the Global South in large supply chains that exploit workers. By avoiding buying new products, you’re not supporting these damaging supply chains. Learning how to fix broken items helps us to think more about what we buy new and to place more value in fixing items rather than disposing of them.
Beta
We’re still developing the Find Your Climate Action tool. Watch this space for updates and share your feedback with us to help improve it.
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