REPAIR FOR A BETTER FUTURE!
What are the traditional business models? Linear, non-integral and exclusionary. Innovations are made daily, all with the aim of making progress and improving the quality of people's lives. But, do we also think about our descendants, the people of the future, when we come up with ideas? We need to rethink existing patterns of behaviour and action, and transform their linearity into a practical circular model.
Repairs, which extends a very short lifetime of products, are ranked fifth on the strategic R-scale from reducing to recycling in the Circular Economy's 10 R framework. It seems that repair strategy, placed in the middle, is often (intentionally) overlooked and unrecognized as a lever for economic growth. To change this, we will make a big circle and offer equal opportunities for everyone - entrepreneurs, workers and consumers.We will support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) that want to integrate repair into their business models. We will inspire individuals and teach them the art of repair. Throughout our work, we willstrive to change behaviour (sustainable choices) and overcome existing barriers to repair. We have taken up the challenge, and now we invite you to come together to revive forgotten skills that will reduce the endless amount of waste - even in a unique Mediterranean.
Figure1: Concept of 10-R strategies in circular economy (source: www.circularise.com)
Repairs are being carried our by a few individuals, driven by a desire for knowledge or a healthy environment. Volunteers, who form small communities and organize Repair Cafés and Do It Yourself (DIY) events emphasize transparent information and advocate a right to repair (R2R). The repair community is not only about fixing broken things and reducing waste, but also about building responsible social attitude and reduce mass shopping.
What about manufacturers and official services? Repairing under warranty is required by law. However, producers are not limited in the interpretation of legislation. All too often it turns out that it is "not worth" repairing a defective product, so the buyer receives a new product in exchange during the warranty period. The wolf is fed, the goat is whole, but now both are threatened by climate change! It is also questionable whether the service technician would (be able to) repair the product at all. Despite the superior knowledge of some individuals, their skills are often not sufficiently valued by their employers. Why it is "better" to throw away than to repair is therefore a multi-faceted, complex problem.
In the project REPper (Interreg Euro-MED programme) we will try to reduce this burden and contribute to climate change mitigation.
Figure 2: Map of REPper project partners (Interreg Euro-MED programme)
The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform connects the circular economy community in Europe by promoting dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and best practices. It identifies repair as a key strategy that can lead to prolonging the use and efficiency of products, reducing the consumption of natural resources and materials, and reducing waste. It prioritizes three product groups: electrical and electronic equipment, textiles and furniture.
The importance of the repair sector has been recognised in several strategic documents of the European Commission.
Circular economy package is based on Circular economy action plan, which is in accordance with the provisions of the European Green Deal. According to the Action plan, products on the EU market must be manufactured in such a way as to maximise their lifetime, reusability, repairability and recyclability.
In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, EU countries must, among other things, promote
circular economy and fully switch to circular systems in production and consumption.
The European Councilgave final approval to the R2R Directive in May 2024. The new legislative framework will make it easier for consumers to access repair services. It will regulate the costs of service after the warranty period, access to spare parts, tools and information for consumers, and will create an online platform for finding local service centers and second-hand shops. We can also look forward to national initiatives for service choice such as repair vouchers and subsidies. So what is left for consumers with currently limited rights? The duty. To change our daily lives, make sustainable choices and join together in a proactive community that will become a model and an example of good practice, even withut state support, while waiting for the Directive to be translated into national law.And what do organisations such as Ecologists without borders think about the R2R? Read here!
Figure 3: The European Green Deal (source: https://www.europeanfiles.eu)
WHO IS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING?
Ecologists Without Borders have created an interactive map of the masters, who can repair your products. You can sign up to become one of the active service providers, expand the national network of handymen and improve your business. As a partner in the Communities Go Circular project (CERV programme), Ecologists also provide additional education on repair and reuse. Follow their events so you don't miss the opportunity to get involved!
ZEOS informs about repairs in many ways, also and promotes servicing, also through the activities of the project LIFE turn to E-circular (program LIFE) and with a special vehicle E-transformer 2.0. If you run out of time to do the repair yourself, find a local service provider on the map of electronic device services.
Knjižnica reči, a lending library together with Mašinotek, ZEOS and others organisations holds events where electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is repaired. Sign up for a repair event here! (The activities of the "Poprav'c" project last until 31 December, 2024.)
You can visit Repair Cafés around Slovenia in Slovenske Konjice, Ljubljana, Ormož, Rogaška Slatina and wherever there are social and educational events led by the Reuse centres, where you can repair a broken or damaged product while drinking hot coffee. In the project Circular WEEP (Interreg Central Europe programme) they develope various solutions to reduce, repair, recover and reuse waste EEE and plastic products. Visit them at local Repair Café, which primarily promotes the exchange of practical skills.
Vincenc Draksler and the Municipality of Kranj are the founders of the Foundation for former addicts, which also trains vulnerable target groups in the field of repairs. In Kr'Zašij tailor's repair shop in Kranj they repair clothes, and next to "Štacuna Pristava" there is a workshop for repairing furniture. Visit them.
The social enterprise KNOF offers a repair service for furniture and office equipment. They work in the field of social innovation, sustainable development, reuse and recycling. In addition to repairs and servicing within the warranty period, they will repair KNOF products also after the warranty has expired in order to prolong the life of the products. They also provide spare parts. They are a partner in the Communities Go Circular project.
The company Recosi employs skilled technicians in the professional refurbishment and repair of business computer equipment. As part of the CE-RISE project (Horizon Europe programme), which focuses on extending the lifespan of raw materials, they are working on establishing an information system to facilitate the exchange of critical data about product content and composition across value chain participants. One of their key contributions is the development of a digital product passport, which will include detailed information on repairs, spare parts, and more.
Educational institutions also address the circular economy and educate pupils and students about the importance of sustainable practices.College in Ptuj and School Center Ptuj, Higher Vocational School are partners in the Interreg project Circular Net, which supports the networking of businesses, local authorities and communities to create sustainable economic models. The participants strive to change the paradigm of consumerism and business towards sustainable design of products that can be repaired and reused.
Do you want to be part of the repair community? Let's join forces - contact us at info@ezavod.si. We would be happy to present you in the REPper support environment.
To improve our repair skills, we first need to be get properly trained. But where to start? Don't worry! You can find plenty of professional tips, tricks and practical demonstrations online on how to repair products.
ZEOS and Mašinotek created a series of DIY videos " "Sure you can"” in Slovenian language on appliance repair and maintenance. On their Facebook profile Kam s tastarim?customers can give opinion and share service tips.
How they DIY elsewhere?
The International Repair Café Foundation lives online and around the world. Also in Slovenia within the Reuse Centers. One can join their events and find or share knowledge! Learn tricks, read good advice and repair the product yourself.
A global repair community iFixit offers guidance on repairing electronic devices and vehicles. You can talk to members of the community in the forum and help each other.
Restarters have created a place to grow the community electronics repair movement. Wiki knowledge database is regularly upgraded. Join if you would like to learn, share, and much more!
To improve your theoretical knowledge, we have prepared a training kit with repair content.
R2R (SI) Educational sheet 0 (SI)
Educational sheet 1 (SI Educational sheet 2 (SI) Educational sheet 3 (SI)
Educational sheet 4 (SI) Educational sheet 5 (SI) Educational sheet 6 (SI)
Educational sheet 7 (SI) Educational sheet 8 (SI) Educational sheet 9 (SI)
Educational sheet 10 (SI) Educational sheet 11 (SI)
DESIGNING BUSINESS MODELS
REPper project promotes the development of circular business models. Raising awareness of their importance is supported by activities in which we work together with innovators, entrepreneurs and interest groups to develop inovative ideas and evaluate good practices.
Start:up Slovenia offers advice within the framework of their central platform of the Slovenian startup ecosystem programme. There are also a number of private programmes, offered by organisations involved in the Start:Up Slovenia support environment. You can find a suitable consultant, trainer or mentor in their community to help you develop your business plan faster and without obstacles.Similar support and mentoring is provided by SPIRIT Slovenia, which, together with other organisations under brand SPOT, helps existing and future entrepreneurs on their business journey.
CER Sustainable Business Network helps companies on their green transformation journey, promoting sustainable business, actively engaging in development and research projects, and strengthening the knowledge and competences of employees through competence centers.
Academy Green Slovenia disseminates applied knowledge on sustainable development, ESG, circular economy, etc. through training and video content. Also students can be members of the Green Network.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Štajerska region of Slovenia manages SRIP – Circular Economy, which brings together key stakeholders for the transition to a circular economy and implement activities in line with S4 focus areas. One of these is Circular business models, within which the Chamber offers training and advice.
The social enterprise KNOF can share a lot of useful information with you. Organisations, public institutions and companies can opt for lectures, workshops, mentoring or consultancy in the field of circular economy and social entrepreneurship (from idea to sales, customized products development, etc.). In the supportive environment of the Circular laboratory, you can design, test and implement concrete sustainable solutions.
Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia brings together the majority of Slovenian economic public utility service providers for environmental protection and companies that provide support services and other solutions to public service providers. The Chamber has access to members who have established cooperation with repair and reuse companies at local level. It cooperates with the The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Institute for Business Education to develop competences for the utility sector, for which individuals receive a certificate of national vocational qualifications. This type of work helps to develop circular business models in the economy.
Just starting on your entrepreneurial journey? Pomurje technology park offers help in finding financial resources to start and grow a business, assistance in creating a business model, mentoring, suggesting improvements in business operation, provides access to international markets, and also technology transfer services. The 3D Scanning & reverse engineering and process engineering laboratories offer the opportunity to research and develop circular solutions in the production process.Primorska Technology Park encourages ambitious entrepreneurs and young talents to develop sustainable business models and creative ideas with its incubator programme GoStartup and the national competition in entrepreneurial ideas of young people Popri. The Technology Park Ljubljana also runs an European business exchange programme, which can help you launch a circular business idea.
Business incubatorof the Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj supports the development of innovative ideas of both future and existing entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurial Challenge for Youth competition involves elementary school students and high school students in the development of innovations.
Are you starting a small or medium-sized business and need help designing a circular business model? Do you want to develop repair skills and offer a repair service to your community? Contact us at info@ezavod.si.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE REPPER PROJECT?
Help us shape our future!
By the end of the project in 2026, we are planning webinars about repairs, repair cafés, educational workshops and trainings, lectures on circularity in business, testing and piloting, campaigns and even repair festivals.
What comes after the project? Depending on the readiness of the repair community and the national achievements of the political bodies. To "repair" the status quo, it will be necessary to show a lot of commitment and present ideas that will transform consumers. Will you join us?
You can give your opinion in a short questionnaire. The information you entrust to us will be the starting point for the initiatives and training that we will carry out at least until the end of the project.
TAKE A PLEDGE FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
We live in a world of growing waste and shrinking resources. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Every time we repair, reuse, or repurpose, we take a stand for a fairer, cleaner, and more resilient planet. The REPper Project brings together individuals, repair professionals, and communities across Southern Europe to build a future where repair and sustainability are the norm – not the exception.
Be the change. Select repair. Sign the REPper pledge.
