Electronic waste is the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream. But 100,000 tonnes of e-waste could be avoided, if we fixed just 10% of perfectly repairable appliances. The appetite for repair is growing and I believe this approach is here to stay.
2020 has been a year of unparalleled challenges. With global climate and
environmental events now a regular fixture on the news agenda, many of us are
taking action in our own homes — and a circular economy has a role to play and
can be part of the solution. With the pandemic causing most of the world to
spend more time at home than ever, the trend towards more sustainable behaviours
has accelerated. Be it through a conscious effort to make positive changes, to
save money or simply due to a lack of options, people have been fixing
appliances that they may otherwise have thrown away — and there couldn’t be a
better time to encourage this behaviour.
While much of the public focus on reducing waste centres on single-use
plastics,
electronic appliances in our homes — such as washing machines and fridges —
continue to be sent unnecessarily to landfills, with a hugely negative impact on
our environment. The United Nations has warned that electronic waste is the
world’s fastest-growing domestic waste
stream;
and the WEEE Forum, the brains behind International E-Waste
Day, estimates that only 17.4 percent of
e-waste last year was recycled. That means that the rest was burnt, or ended up
in landfill — creating environmental hazards for years to come. However, the
encouraging news is that 100,000 tonnes of
e-waste could be avoided, if
we fixed just 10 percent of perfectly repairable appliances.
A
survey
carried out by the London Recycles campaign has shown that people are eager
to repair and reuse things, with over two-thirds saying that they would repair
more of their household items if they knew how. At
CDSL, we’ve seen a record-breaking surge in people
seeking through eSpares, our leading consumer brand, to fix their appliances
rather than buying new. Our
#FixFirst campaign
encourages people to fix their computers and household appliances
themselves,
rather than simply kicking their underperforming appliances to the kerb. By
repairing appliances, consumers benefit from saving funds, as well as a feeling
of empowerment. With sustainability an increasing focus for people, they can
also extend the lifespan of their appliances, knowing that they are doing the
right thing for the planet.
Alongside the people striving to make change in their own homes, it’s essential
that businesses take action, too, to support this positive change. Any business,
be it local ones or larger brands, can make a difference by collaborating and
recognising the behaviour change in today’s consumers. Last month’s
International E-Waste Day highlighted the need for education, to help consumers
make informed decisions.
Designing for Circularity-Friendly Behaviors
Join us as leaders from BBMG and REI examine how leading brands are innovating and scaling circular models to attract new fans and earn customer loyalty, all while eliminating waste — Thurs, May 9, at Brand-Led Culture Change.
The appetite for repair is growing and I believe this approach is here to stay.
The desire to minimise our environmental impact is one that we need to drive
forwards if we hope to one day achieve a truly circular economy. With
environmental activists such as Greta Thunberg leading the way, it’s clear
that young people are more savvy and environmentally aware than previous
generations might have been — and they’re also putting pressure on businesses to
recognise their own responsibility to take action and educate. We need now more
than ever to support future generations and make sure that we are all
responsible consumers, driving a circular economy in our own homes and with the
businesses we choose to support.
Published Nov 5, 2020 7am EST / 4am PST / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET
Andrew Sharp is CEO of Connect Distribution Services Limited (CDSL), the UK’s leading appliance spare parts distributor.