New research reveals significant potential in the UK repair economy

We’re excited to share a new publication from one of our research projects, the UCL Plastic Waste Innovation Hub. The paper titled ‘A systems approach to growing the UK electronics and appliance repair economy’, explores the importance of repair. Specifically, it takes a closer look at the repair economy and its significant potential in addressing critical environmental, social and economic challenges.

The study, available on Frontiers in Sustainability, emphasizes that growing the repair economy in the UK requires collective action from multiple actors in the local, national, and global context. One key finding is that fostering a repair economy can slow material consumption, reducing demand for new products and extending the lifespan of existing ones. This helps to address the global electronic and electrical waste crisis — which causes significant environmental and social damage — and can also help mitigate the supply chain risks associated with critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and silicon. These minerals are essential for technology that supports the green economy; helping to achieve sustainable development whilst also bridging the divide between people who have full access to digital technology (such as computers and the internet), and those who don’t.