Restart Project Group lined up in three rows wearing campaign T-Shirts and smiliing into the camera

Recently, I was invited to attend the 10-year anniversary of The Restart Project (Restart), an international non-profit organisation based in London. The group actively supports the Right to Repair movement in Europe and supports community repair activities across the UK. There, I met a remarkable team of sustainability experts as well as their dedicated team of volunteer technicians and spent an afternoon celebrating their brilliant achievements. 

A lot of progress has been made for Right to Repair in Europe thus far, not least due to the effort and persistence from organisations like Restart. In support of this essential cause, Restart has directly taken to Brussels lobbying for repair legislation and advising decision makers within the EU Parliament as part of the Right to Repair Campaign. Not only was I able to learn more about the great work of the charity thus far, but I also managed to get a glimpse into what lies ahead for them. 

 

The Growing Problem of E-Waste 

In order to talk about Restart, however, we must first take a look at electronic waste (e-waste), which is a global concern and represents the world's fastest growing waste stream. In addition to posing a threat to our sensitive ecosystems, research published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) demonstrates the detrimental effects that chemicals found in electronics can have on the health of people, especially pregnant women and children. 

It is currently estimated that by the end of 2022, a staggering 347 million tonnes of unrecycled e-waste will be distributed around the world. Unfortunately, we see electronics being shipped off to developing countries illegally. The infrastructure needed to dispose of their materials responsibly is simply not available in these countries, so it is important that we direct as much technology away from landfill as possible. 

 

What is Right to Repair and How Does Restart Support the Campaign? 

Right to Repair is a movement that aims to give consumers the freedom to decide who repairs their electronic items. While it is not illegal for you to repair an item yourself, there is currently no framework in place to ensure that you can. For example, you might be missing vital instructions, tools or spare parts for your repair project. Learn more about the Right to Repair and its benefits in our blog. 

Over Sicilian mimosas and delicious vegan food, I was able to learn more about Restart and their motivation to push Right to Repair. I met one of Restart’s Co-Founders, Ugo Vallauri, who has been running the activities of the charity for an entire decade and who filled me in on the latest progress of Right to Repair in Europe. He says: 

“We see a lot of momentum in Europe, also thanks to the European Right to Repair Campaign we're co-steering. For example, negotiations are currently ongoing to confirm a battery regulation - which we hope will include a requirement for manufacturers to design all consumer products with user-replaceable batteries in the future. Plus, we're expecting a draft regulation for repairability of smartphones and tablets to be published in the next few weeks, for the first time likely to include minimum duration of software support as well as a list of spare parts that device manufacturers need to make available to everyone.” 

The Restart Project is heavily involved in seeing Right to Repair legislation through to the final stage by lobbying directly in Brussels. In 2021, the European Parliament voted in favour of establishing a Right to Repair as part of a report on the Circular Economy Action Plan, not least thanks to Restart’s ongoing determination and expert counselling. 

In the coming months and years, the charity’s aim is to expand these efforts on a wider stage and carry the momentum over into country legislation. That being said, Restart will not be abandoning its community roots. In April of this year, the first Fixing Factory – Restart’s newest pilot project – opened its doors on London’s Abbey Road, creating a permanent hub for electronics to be donated, repaired, and then circulated among those with limited or no digital access. Click here to find out more about Fixing Factory. 

 

A promise from Techbuyer 

At Techbuyer, we are determined to reduce the amount of newly generated e-waste and its impact on the planet by providing sustainable enterprise solutions to extend the lifespan of IT hardware wherever possible. I can say that I am proud to support the work of organisations such as Restart through my activities at Techbuyer and I am excited to keep following their journey in the future. 

There is still a lot to be done for creating a more circular electronics market in Europe and the rest of the world. The Restart Project is a brilliant example of how grassroots actions have the power to inspire bigger, lasting changes for the good of our planet. Keep doing what you’re doing, Restart! 

 

Photo Credit: Mark Phillips for the Restart Project