| Title | The role of independent repair in a circular and regenerative economy |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 80003 |
| Authors | Van Der Velden, Maja, Eléonore Maitre-Ekern, and Deborah Katland Wanja. |
| Published | Circular Economy and Sustainability (2023): 1-26. |
| Structure | Here is an analysis of the article, presented in sections with two sentences each: The article discusses the role of independent repair in a circular economy, highlighting its importance in reducing waste and promoting sustainability. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with repairers in Oslo, Norway, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by independent repairers. The concept of a circular economy has gained significant attention in recent years, with a focus on reducing waste and promoting sustainability. However, the article argues that the circular economy should be extended to include regeneration, which is understood as a paradigm shift that goes beyond circularity and focuses on the evolution of the whole system. Repair is not just a technical activity, but also a sociomaterial practice that involves reconfiguring the relationship between people and things. The article highlights the importance of repair as a regenerative practice that can give back to the living systems we are part of. The independent repair sector in Oslo is characterized by a diverse range of repairers, including small shop owners and individuals who work on their own. The sector faces challenges such as access to spare parts, design complexity, and competition from authorized repairers. Independent repairers use different business models to tackle the challenges of accessing affordable and quality spare parts, including buying in bulk, using refurbished parts, and cannibalizing parts from non-repairable products. The article highlights the importance of business models and strategies in supporting independent repair. Independent repair fills the gap between expensive authorized repair and discarding a product, offering cheaper and faster repair options. The article argues that independent repair is critical in achieving a paradigm shift that is anchored in regenerative sustainability. Independent repair contributes to a circular spare part economy, both locally and on a global level, by reusing and refurbishing parts. The article highlights the importance of cannibalizing parts from non-repairable products to repair others. The article discusses the need for regulation to support independent repair, including consumer warranties, taxation, economic incentives, and brand owners' behavior. The authors highlight the importance of better policies and regulation to promote maintenance and repair, and to move the transition to a circular economy. The article concludes that independent repair plays a critical role in achieving a paradigm shift that is anchored in regenerative sustainability. The authors argue that better policies and regulation are needed to support independent repair and to promote a circular economy. |
| Summary | The article investigates the role of independent repair in a circular and regenerative economy. Independent repair is critical in achieving a paradigm shift towards regenerative sustainability, especially in the electrical and electronics equipment sector. The study focuses on the independent electronics repair sector in Oslo, Norway, and consists of semi-structured interviews with 25 repairers working in commercial independent repair shops. The interviews revealed three main findings: independent repair shops employ different business models and strategies to tackle challenges related to accessing affordable and quality spare parts; independent repair fills the gap between expensive authorized repair and discarding a product; and independent repair has contributed to a circular spare part economy, both locally and globally. The study found that independent repairers use different strategies to buy spare parts, including using Norwegian suppliers, bulk purchases from abroad, and cannibalizing parts from non-repairable products. The main challenges faced by independent repairers are access to spare parts, particularly quality spare parts, and the high price of repair services. The study also highlighted the need for better policies and regulation to promote independent repair and address existing barriers, such as taxation and brand owners' behavior. The EU has started addressing some of these challenges through its sustainable product policy, but more needs to be done to support independent repair. The article concludes that independent repair plays a crucial role in keeping products in use, reducing waste, and mitigating environmental impacts, and that better policies and regulation are necessary to support the transition to a circular economy. |
| Scientific Methods | Based on the provided article, "Circular Economy and Sustainability," the research methods used in this study are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The study's research approach is presented in the "Research Approach" section, which explains the combination of methods used to collect and analyze the data. The study's findings are presented in the "Results" section, which reports on the themes and patterns identified in the interview data and the analysis of the EU's regulations and policies. The "Discussion" section provides a detailed analysis of the study's findings and their implications for the circular economy and sustainability. The study's conclusions are presented in the "Conclusions" section, which summarizes the main findings and recommendations for policy and practice. Overall, the study's research methods are robust and well-suited to exploring the complex relationships between repair, circular economy, and sustainability. |
| Article contribution | The article "The Role of Independent Repair in a Circular and Regenerative Economy" by Maja van der Velden, Eléonore Maitre-Ekern, and Deborah Wanja, presents a study on the role of independent repair in a circular economy. The study focuses on the challenges and opportunities faced by independent repairers in a sustainable circular economy, particularly in the electrical and electronics equipment sector. Contribution to Regenerative Economics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Key findings: 1. Independent repairers face significant challenges, including limited access to spare parts, high labor costs, and restrictive regulations. 2. Independent repair fills a gap between authorized and discredited repair services, providing affordable and sustainable repair options. 3. Independent repair contributes to a circular spare part economy, both locally and globally, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. 4. Independent repairers often reuse parts from non-repairable products, reducing electronic waste and promoting sustainability. 5. The study highlights the need for a more inclusive and equitable repair ecosystem that supports independent repairers and promotes sustainable consumption. Recommendations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
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