Fixing What’s Broken Before It Becomes Waste
Author: Charlaine Baartjes

Here’s a thought: What if the most circular thing you could do today…
was simply to repair something that stopped working yesterday? I am sharing a link to more than 65 000 repair guides (that would keep you busy 😉) that I found useful in the comments, if you are interested.

We live in a world where “replace” is often quicker than “repair.” But every time we throw away a toaster, a laptop, or a perfectly good chair with a wobbly leg, we’re not just losing the object, we’re wasting the resources, energy, and care that went into making it.

Studies show that extending the lifespan of products through repair can save up to 70% of emissions compared to manufacturing new replacements. Talk about positive impact.

And yet… broken often gets labelled as useless.
When in reality, broken is just an invitation for innovation.

Repair isn’t just a cost-saving exercise. It’s:
✔️ A climate solution.
✔️ A skills opportunity (local repair cafés!, maker spaces, and how to videos).
✔️ A mindset change away from disposability.
✔️ A way to honour the resources Mother Earth has already given us.

So maybe, before hitting “add to cart,” ask:
👉 Can this be repaired, repurposed, or reinvented instead?
Because every fixed hinge, rewired kettle, or patched pair of jeans is a small act of resistance against waste, and a quiet revolution for a circular economy.
💬 What’s the last thing you repaired instead of replacing?

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