Repair and repurpose

Repairing and repurposing broken items are a key part of reducing our waste

Giving our items a new lease of life by mending and repairing them when they break ensures fewer items go to landfill. It's also a win-win for the wallet as you won't have to go out and buy a new item to replace it. Sometimes, our items can be repurposed for other uses.

How confident are Brits at repairing their clothing?

Click the plus signs below to find out

Repair our clothes

Source: Thought

Only a third of people in the UK (36%) repair their clothes when they break

Easier to buy new

Source: Thought

One in four (25%) choose not to mend clothes because ‘it’s easier just to buy something new’

Don't know how to

Source: Thought

One in seven (14%) ‘don’t know how to’ repair broken clothes

Can't be bothered

Source: Thought

A fifth ‘can’t be bothered’ to repair broken clothes

Sewing a button

Source: Thought

A third of Brits (33%) admit they wouldn’t know how to sew a button back on if it fell off

These stats are from research carried out by sustainable fashion brand Thought as seen in EU Business News

What can we do to change this?

Throwing a torn or ripped garment in the bin may seem far more convenient than looking for a repair service or picking up a needle and thread.

Yet, by participating in activities such as repairing and repurposing, we can give our treasures a new lease of life!

Repair your item i.e. sewing, mending etc.
Upcycle, for example re-cover an old chair or sofa.
Think of setting up skill swaps/time banks within your community
If it cannot be repaired, can you use the parts for something else?
Repurpose an old pair of jeans into a draft excluder or reusable shopping bag
Look for a local repair cafe

What is a repair café?

Repair cafes are organised events set up to provide people with a space to work on repairing objects of everyday life, such as clothing, electronics and toys. Tools and helpful volunteers are typically at hand to support participants to repair their broken items.