Repair Café gives items a second life

Repairing instead of tossing away

In the Netherlands we throw away a lot of stuff, even stuff that would be usable again after a simple repair. Unfortunately, for many people repair is no longer a habit; they no longer know how to do it and the knowledge is quickly disappearing. The Repair Café wants to change this. At the Repair Café you can have your things repaired and also gain practical knowledge. Items last longer and no longer need to be thrown away. This saves raw materials and energy that is needed for new products and reduces CO2 emissions emitted from production and recycling. In doing so, the Repair Café contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: responsible consumption and production. This is important because more efficient use of raw materials reduces pressure on the environment.

In every corner of the city

Since the first Repair Café in The Hague took place on October 11, 2011, the Repair Café has become a household word in The Hague. Since then there have been many Repair Cafés at various locations around town: city farms, community centers, churches and thrift stores. And today in Amare. Sitting at a table are three gentlemen waiting for the next client. They say, “We are like a traveling circus, every three weeks we go to a different place in town. We are able to repair about 50 to 70% of the stuff that comes in. And when it cannot be repaired, the client has at least tried. People always walk out of here with a smile on their face”.

Repairability of products

Unfortunately, not all stuff can be repaired. And that's because more and more (modern) products are made in such a way that they cannot be opened. For example, they are fastened with factory glue instead of screws. Regulations can change this. Some progress has already been made. For example, the European Union recently adopted the Right to Repair. This directive grants consumers a new right - to have products repaired easier, cheaper and faster. Manufacturers are also encouraged to make products that last longer and can be repaired, reused and recycled. This improves the repairability of stuff and contributes to a circular economy.

The Repair Cafe connects

Sahin works in IT and has been a volunteer at Repair Café for four years. “I always liked repairing. I used to buy broken things on Markplaats and then try to repair them in my spare time. When that succeeded, it gave me so much satisfaction!”. When he came across the Repair Café he was so excited that he decided to become a volunteer. He is now the treasurer at Repair Café The Hague.  “I'm happy when I manage to fix something. But if I can repair other people's things and help them with that then I am doubly happy!”. An added benefit of the Repair Café is that he has met many new people here. Sahin came to the Netherlands from Turkey six years ago for work. “Everything was new to me and we were in the middle of covid. I knew few people with whom I could practice Dutch and missed a sense of community. I found that at the Repair Café. This is my community. I have made friends here”. With their activity, the Repair Café is also contributing to SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities.

After spending an afternoon at the Repair Café, it becomes clear what the power of Repair Café is. Not only does it make people happy with repaired items and contribute to a sustainable society, but it is also a social event where people help each other and have the opportunity to catch up.