Opinion Archives - Unbroken Solutions

The battle to get the ‘system’ to act!

Mark Phillips News, Opinion December 31, 2024 1 Comment

Over the past few months I’ve given a talk at Riverfront Theatre in Newport with …. and held an exhibition and talk with WeFlock at No.1 Church Lane. Much of the project focus now is getting the work and the message ‘out there’, pushing the need to act rather than more photography.

I am fortunate to meet many like-minded people. It is clear that they and the wider public want a better right to repair and more repair capability. We already have so many solutions from the UK, Europe and elsewhere, we just need the will to act. However, our government, our councils and the waste authorities are still slow to respond.

Thankfully, organisations like The Restart Project and Repair Cafe’s continue to support their local communities. They also continue to get media attention, which hopefully will create the ‘nudge’ needed. As a recent example West Central London Fixers – recently helped presenter Jeremy Vine get his Segway fixed, so instead of ‘skipping it’ and buying a new one for around £700, he was able to replace the batteries for around £70.

The message is a consistent one – a significant amount of our broken electronics can be fixed. We know this from surveys done at HWRCs which found nearly half of all items ‘skipped’ were either not broken or could be easily fixed. Yet, many councils simply promote ‘recycling’, which does little more than crush the items and then push them into an inefficient and costly material recovery process. Such a waste!

It is worth highlighting some that do support repair, my own council promote all repair events across the county, as do Medway, Lambeth, Cambridge, Maidstone, Warwick, and Derbyshire, to name a few. This is something that is simple and really costs them nothing to do. It begs the question why are all council’s not doing this?? If your council isn’t, tell them you think they should. Act now.

Then, there are initiatives, like the Repair Finder (run by Frank Schoops at Transition Marlow). This aims to link the public with the network of commercial repairers across the country. Making it easier to find someone to repair your stuff.

There are also resources for education to help the next generation learn about repair. Team Repair was founded by a team of Design Engineers from Imperial College London. who are on a mission to increase STEM uptake and tackle the e-waste crisis, using the magic of repair. Restart at School offers a 10 week enrichment programme run by teachers and educators, with support and materials provided by the Restart Project.

And if you haven’t seen the scale of the challenges, I recommend watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, the recent Netflix documentary.

So, despite the failure of institutions, there is a lot going on and the movement is growing. As a result, I’ve updated the Resources page, adding content and improving layout to make it a little easier to find the links. Let’s hope 2025 results in some meaningful action in the UK; time to enact a better Right to Repair.

More Progress on Right to Repair

Mark Phillips News, Opinion April 24, 2024 Leave a reply

Back in October 2023, an event was held to remind European Parliament members of the issues in repair. On Tuesday 23 April 2024, the European Parliament eventually adopted the directive on the so-called “right to repair” for consumers with 584 votes in favour, 3 against and 14 abstentions. “The rules clarify the obligations for manufacturers to repair goods and encourage consumers to extend a product’s lifecycle through repair.” Whilst it is still short of what is really needed, it represents another step forward, providing:

– Manufacturer has to repair a product for a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe after the legal guarantee period

– Access to spare parts, tools and repair information for consumers

– Incentives to opt for repair, such as repair vouchers and funds

and, online platforms will assist consumers in finding local repair services and shops selling refurbished goods.

There are now 30 US States considering or implementing a Right to Repair. four states have enacted a right t Rep[air for consumer electronics. One of the most comprehensive being that passed by Gov. Tina Kotek in Oregon, on 27 March 2024.

On the 17 April, the UK Environmental Audit Committee met to take oral evidence and an update on progress ‘electronic waste‘ as a follow up to a review in 2020. Input was provided by National Association of Waste Disposal Officers, Back Market, iWaste, Beko, Royal Society of Chemistry, Material Focus and Green Alliance. In summary, there has been some limited progress, but there is so much more that can be done.

Recent government proposals remain focused on recycling, rather than repair and reuse. It remains difficult for people to access reuse and repair services, and recycling is the least desirable approach for WEEE. A good summary by the Committee Chair, Philip Dunne – “It appears the government is yet to grasp fully the scale of the e-waste tsunami“. It would seem so.

On 7 May, there will be a UK Parliament Repair Cafe with an opportunity to engage members of parliament in the importance of repair and an improved right to repair. It will also be an opportunity to increase awareness of the Repair Declaration, re-launched at FixFest in 2023.

Given the recent progress in several US States and in Europe, it is an opportunity for the UK Government to step up and make meaningful progress. There are already solutions out there. There are already organisations in place to provide repair and reuse services. We just need better rights.

2024 off to a good start?

Mark Phillips News, Opinion January 12, 2024 Leave a reply

It felt like a lot had happened in 2023. But already there is much happening in 2024, especially on the campaign front.

In the UK

After months of nudging, a few councils and waste authorities have responded positively to the ‘act now‘ campaign. This aims to provide more support for repair and reuse in the UK. A particular ‘shout out’ goes to North London Waste Authority, Scottish Government, South Cambridge, West Midlands and Powys. They all took the time to respond and provide more information on their commitments.

DEFRA have also responded, but focussed on their policy paper “The waste prevention programme for England: Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste”. This aims “to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials, and increase recycling“. They are currently consulting on “reforming the producer responsibility system for waste electrical and electronic equipment“. There are a number of good provisions (around funding and producer and large retailer responsibilities). But there are major concerns about the proposals to use kerb-side collection for electrical and electronic items. Given that around 40-50% of these items are reusable and repairable, leaving them ‘kerb-side’ is not god. It is likely to render them all useless and simply create more waste! You have an opportunity to provide input to this consultation – the deadline to respond is 7 March 2024, the link is here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/product-regulation-and-producer-responsibility/consultation-on-reforming-the-producer-responsibil/

In the USA

USPIRG, iFixit and other campaigners continue to make progress on getting state legislatures to adopt Right to Repair. Following success in California, Oregon is adopting a right to repair. Importantly, Google have come out in support of meaningful proposals. These include:

– Repair parts: ensuring that parts are accessible to the public and no parts pairing or registration. This enables small businesses and local repairers to thrive and grow.-

– Accessible tools: and an on-device Diagnostic App to help users test device functionality before and after repairs.

– Clear instructions: with redesigned repair manuals and information on how to order parts, view repair manuals, and run diagnostic tests.

More details on the Google commitment to repair – “Repair is a critical component of Google’s focus on enabling product longevity and sustainability“

All good stuff. We look forward to Apple and Samsung doing likewise very soon.

In other news

More community repair groups are starting up in the UK. This includes Islington Fixers, who will hold their first event on 20 January 2024 at the Islington Climate Centre. This is in partnership with the Restart Project.

My ‘unbroken.solutions’ exhibition was hosted by the Islington Climate Centre in late 2022. Thank you and Good luck!!

Right To Repair

Mark Phillips News, Opinion October 31, 2023 Leave a reply

On 24 October, a group of Right to Repai r advocates, including R2REurope, RREUSE, ECOS, and EEB held their “The Price is Right’ event. The event was a day before the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (ICMO) vote on ‘Sustainable Consumption of Goods – Promoting Repair and Reuse”.

The event challenged MEPs, NGOs and the public as they attempted to work out the ‘official’ price of spare parts for well-known consumer electrical and electronic products. This fun event aimed to educate and remind people of why it is important to have a proper right to repair.

During the event, many were stunned at the cost of spares. For example, the power cable and plug for a steam iron could cost as much as 40% of the price of the iron alone. Or that a replacement screen for an Digital TV was more expensive than the TV itself. Even where spares were more reasonably priced, they were often much more expensive than the price of spares on the aftermarket.

The good news is that the IMCO report was voted through. It significantly improves the Commission’s proposal by introducing provisions to tackle the high cost of repair. It proposes transparent pricing of spare parts, and bans on unfair anti-repair practices.

Without these measures, repairs will remain expensive and, electrical and electronic items will needlessly be disposed of. This is a waste of resources. It costs local authorities money. It damages the environment. It drives the public to buy another expensive product! The report proposes:

Access to more information and parts for independent repairers and end users: guaranteeing access to all information and spare parts for everyone, including independent repairers, remanufacturers, refurbishers and end-users.

Affordability of repair: requiring manufacturers to supply parts at reasonable prices.

A solid ban of anti-repair practices: such as the use of software barriers.

A new obligation to repair outside of legal guarantee: stressing that consumers should be able to pick the provider of their choice, promoting independent repair and self-repair.

Priority to repair within the legal guarantee framework: the priority should be given to repair instead of replacement.

Next Steps …

The next step is the confirmation of the ICMO position in the main European Parliament. Then finally, for the European Council to enact these rights.

Given the broad support for repair amongst the public and at the EU Parliament – the Council should enact the ambition. In the meantime, the case for a proper right to repair continues …

… and in the UK?

In the UK, following FixFest 2023 in Cardiff, an updated Repair and Reuse Declaration has been published. The UK lags behind Europe (and some US states). The UK is the second highest producer of electronic waste per capita in the world, and on track to become the top producer.

The UK is also falling behind other countries in support for repair and reuse. Repair and reuse are central to achieving a circular, less wasteful, economy. The Declaration asks UK legislators and decision-makers at all levels to support repair and reuse. It really should not be hard …!

Note – The Right to Repair campaign is a coalition of European organisations pushing for system change around repair. It consists of over 100 members in 20+ countries, including NGOs, repair businesses, repair networks, and repairers themselves.

book and zine campaign

Mark Phillips News, Opinion July 22, 2023 Leave a reply

As part of this project around 260 copies of unbroken.solutions photobook will be sent to councils and local authorities in the UK. The ask is a simple one – do more to support repair and reuse in your community.

As part of the campaign, zines have also been produced to distribute to the public, via the community repair network and local repair groups, to encourage the public to engage their councils to ask for more support.

Deciding to run a photobook and zine based campaign clearly comes with an environmental impact. But throughout the process we have been thoughtful and aimed to minimise waste and resources.

The book was designed with Struktur Design to minimise waste and simplify production. The books are A4 size (to minimise paper waste) and use a mix of sustainably sourced and recycled materials. The ‘cloth’ cover uses Wibalin textured and recycled paper. The papers are all CarbonNeutral and FSC sourced. It was printed digitally, as the run size meant offset lith printing would create too much waste (it might all be recycled but it still creates waste and uses energy).

The printers, Pureprint, were selected from criteria to assess their eco-credentials as well as price. They have had ISO14001 (Environmental Management) and EMAS since the 1990s, were the world’s first CarbonNeutral printer. Working with Richard at Pureprint, we aimed to minimise impact in materials, production and use of local suppliers and finishers.

The act now zines were offset printed at YouLovePrint, also part of the PurePrint Group and working to the same environmental management standards.

The books and zines are all sent out using sustainable packaging materials from Priory Direct, BCorp and CarbonNeutral company, offering packaging made from recycled (and recyclable) materials that are sustainably sourced. No bubblewrap, no plastic.

To ship the books and zines, they were hand walked to my local Post Office. Later this year many of the zines will be distributed by and to community repair groups at the upcoming FixFest 2023, again minimising the shipping footprint.

It’s not perfect, but with a little effort you can reduce the impact of your activities. If you want more information on sustainable photobook publishing, check out the resources at SPPNetwork.

We already have solutions. Act Now.

10 and 20 years on …

Mark Phillips News, Opinion March 23, 2023 Leave a reply

This year, 2023, marks the 10th anniversary of the Restart Project and Hackney Fixers. It is also the 20th anniversary of iFixit. Groups that have been battling for decades (literally) to give us all a right to repair and the capability to do it.

In 2003, Kyle Wiens and Luke Soules found themselves with a broken iBook G3. Their attempts to repair it led to what is now iFixit. iFixit was actually born PB FixIt after the preeminent Mac notebook of the day: PowerBook. Today iFixit offer online repairs guides for lots of different products. They offer spares and the all important tool kits. A special mention goes out to their security drivers allowing you to access product that manufacturers make difficult to open!! In October 2013, iFixit Europe was born with Stuttgart in Germany as a central European location, which I visited in October 2019.

Since 2015, they’ve worked to support Right to Repair laws, with partners like USPIRG and partners in Europe from the Right to Repair Europe movement.

Restart Project and Hackney Fixers

The Restart Project started in 2013. Although based in London their reach is much wider with Restart groups and parties across the UK, in Europe and further afield. They collaborate with other groups, particularly in Europe to advocate for our Right to Repair.

Ugo Vallauri and Nathan Proctor – Restart Project and US PIRG

The Hackney Fixers, promote electrical and electronic repair in Hackney as an alternative to growing mountains of waste and consumption and work closely with the Restart Project. Like many communities repair groups they hold local events to help people repair their things. Many of the original founders are still volunteering.

Images from Hackney Fixers repair event at Woodberry Down Community Primary School, London in March 2023.

Happy Anniversaries

All of these groups are battling against waste by making better use of things. They support communities with real solutions. Solutions that we need to adopt, adapt and accelerate. Keep supporting them!

time to step up

Mark Phillips Opinion January 3, 2023 Leave a reply

Limited legislation has been passed to provide our Right to Repair, but there is still much more we can do. We can all take better care of our things. Make them last longer. We can learn to repair them, or find someone who can.

We already have lots of potential solutions. Community repair groups like Repair Cafe’s and the Restart Project can help us make things last longer, but ultimately we need to build much more capability.

In the short term our local Council’s and Waste Authorities can help make a real difference.
Some already do, but they can all do more.

Councils could enable more access to unused shops for community repair groups to use (like Share and Repair in Bath, Re:Make in Newport or the Fixing Factory in Camden).

They can also help with consumer awareness and education. They can help shift the culture from recycling (which is wasteful) to reuse and repair. Adding facilities to HWRCs (like the Fixing Factory in Brent). They can work in partnership with repair groups, charities and local independent repairers.

All the areas highlighted in the diagram above are opportunities for local authorities to help make more of a difference.

Every town needs one of these …

Mark Phillips News, Opinion August 16, 2022 1 Comment

Bath Share and Repair

Whilst typical Repair Cafés make a major contribution and help many people, their low frequency can create barriers. The lack of a permanent location can also present challenges storing tools, materials and spare parts. The logical solution would be to have community repair operating several days a week in an established location. One that is also able to run repair events and provide more extensive repair services or share tools via a Library of Things.

Bath Share and Repair opened the doors to the Share and Repair Shop in the centre of Bath. The first location was on Broad Street and had an incredible response, raising awareness of sharing and repairing in Bath. In August 2021 they moved to 3 York Buildings, George Street, which is now the new home for the Bath Library of Things and a place to run even bookable repair sessions.

Given all the empty shops in our high streets, this is an opportunity to create something that supports and builds the community. In doing so it also helps rescue waste and address some of the cost of living challenges. It is a win-win-win-win … so why are local councils and town centres not encouraging this??

Culture of Repair

Mark Phillips News, Opinion July 29, 2022 Leave a reply

Throughout this project, I have endeavoured to identify some of the key issues and potential solutions to address our waste. In discussions with many people, even those reasonably aware of environmental issues, there is a lack of knowledge about the real impact of our consumption and what we can all do about it. That is why **unbroken.solutions** focusses on *solutions* that others can adopt or adapt to suit their needs.

But ultimately, we need to create, *or re-create*, a culture of repair. One where design takes account of the need to rebuild, to reuse and to recycle, so waste is minimised. One where repair and its value is understood. One where repair resources are readily available and accessible. One where to repair, is to care.

So, it was great to connect with Vita at the Culture of Repair. Based in the Bay Area, California, their mission is simply: That Repair be an actionable and pervasive cultural value.

They focus on bringing repair to the classroom, to educate the next generation. Their efforts are currently looking to integrate Repair into maker programs in schools and educational non-profits, supporting community repair events, advocating for repair at the state and local levels, and, as always, promoting repair as a social value.

The Culture of Repair Project works exclusively in The East Bay and is currently concentrating on initiatives in Oakland and Berkeley, CA. However, their site contains lots of ideas and resources, for educators, for repair groups and for the general public, everywhere.

For those interested check the link here: Resources and Worldwide Initiatives.

Resource lists are provided to help people new to thinking about Repair begin to find material meaningful to their lines of inquiry. The more we learn the more we can make an impact.

Report for Microsoft confirms the benefits of Repair

Mark Phillips News, Opinion May 5, 2022 Leave a reply

An independent repo rt, commissioned by Microsoft confirms that repairing devices reduces waste and climate emissions.

The study compared replacement versus factory or authorised repair for different Microsoft products. The product included Surface Pros, Surface Book and Laptop Studio.

The study found that, compared to device replacement, all forms of repair offer significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and waste reduction benefits. (For the devices studied, repairing can yield up to a 92% reduction in potential waste and emissions.)

It also found that design has significant potential to reduce carbon and waste impacts. Design for repair helps repair and reduces harmful impacts.

Finally, it highlighted that transportation logistics can play in contributing to overall GHG emissions associated with repair services. “To further reduce waste and GHG emissions, Microsoft is advised to take steps to expand repair locations and capabilities across more devices and to promote mail-to repair services“.

Manufacturers need to do more to enable repair.

Opinion