Fix it

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What

Culture changes fast. Not long ago, there was an avid repair industry and a strong mentality of 'make do and mend'. But today's throw-away society is putting a strain on our planet, not to mention our wallets.

Let's change that.

Next time something in your home is acting up, why not see if you can fix it instead of chuck it? Not only will you be surprised how easy it can be, you’ll be amazed how satisfying it feels.

fix-it

Benefits

For people
This one is so satsifying. Making things last longer saves you money because it means you don’t have to buy new things! You also don't have to waste time wondering which bin to put things in!

But we won't kid you: this isn't always the case. A lot of products today aren't designed to be repaired, and the repair industry has become small and expensive. So when buying things, look for those designed with a cradle-to-cradle model (there’s actually a certificate now), and learn to fix things yourself.

On the bright side, the satisfaction you can get from fixing things shouldn't be underestimated. Try repairing instead of replacing and bask in the glory of knowing you’re the kind of person who’d survive an apocalypse movie. What’s more, the more you fix, the better you’ll get at it.

For planet
Extracting resources and manufacturing new gadgets creates lots of carbon. Take the iPhone 6: 85% of its entire lifecycle's carbon footprint comes from its manufacture, not from using it.

Importing our new gadgets across the sea uses a large amount of fossil fuels too. Shipping to the UK accounts for around 3% of all the carbon emissions this country generates. Humans move more of the earth's rocks and sediments around than any other beast or being. We're changing the shape of our planet, significantly.

Modern gadgets like smartphones require a range of different metals and rare earths which are found across the world. These are often mined in parts of the developing world where labour and environmental standards are less than ideal. Their extraction has been implicated in human rights violations as well as environmental degradation.

How

Here are some of our favourite fixers:

Clothes:
Holes, tears, broken zippers and moth-attacks - clothes are forever getting into trouble. Seeing as ‘fast fashion’ is fast becoming, well, out of fashion, now’s the perfect time to learn how to mend the items you already own and love. There are lots of places to get help on bringing new life to your old clothes. Love Your Clothes is a great online trove of tips. If you'd rather some hands-on support, then have a google for workshops in your area. There are loads available around the country, from Stitched Up in Manchester to Thrifty Couture in London. Check to see if your garmets can be fixed through the United Repair Centre - this new initiative is working with more and more brands by the day.

General bits and bobs:
Smashed a plate? Broken a handle? Snapped something off... something else? Your home is full of things that are easy to break… and easy to fix! We're massive fans of Sugru, a play-doh like rubber that sets hard and can be used to fix anything from sauce-pan lids to iPhone cables to ski boots. The encyclopedic Instructables is an amazing source of help and ideas for fixing almost anything (or turning REALLY broken things into fabulous new things).

Electronics:
iFixIt is a great site crammed with repair guides for all things tech, from toasters to PCs to trucks. If hands on training and support is what you're after, The Restart Project has you covered, running workshops on electrical repairs.

References

Apple iPhone 6 Report

Cradle to Cradle

Conflict Minerals