Good for the environment, good for your wallet – repairing everyday objects makes our consumer society more sustainable. Repair cafés and neighborhood initiatives are encouraging the trend of using what you buy for longer and thus conserving resources.

Many companies are now relying on “refurbishing”, i.e. the quality-assured overhaul and repair of products for the purpose of reuse and marketing. Particularly in the electronics industry, which produces computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions, e-books, music and video devices as well as other electronic consumer goods, the refurbishment and general overhaul of used and no longer needed models plays an important transformational role.

Products that contain valuable raw materials often get a second life. This is important in times when electronic waste still ends up in unsecured landfills in countries in the Global South and is dismantled by people there under precarious and health-damaging conditions. New business models are emerging around “second hand” devices and products in the private sector or in companies. Secondary use saves money, resources and CO2 emissions.

The industry includes, for example, the repair of computers and telecommunications devices, consumer electronics and other consumer goods. Companies that manufacture electronic devices are in the “Electrical Engineering & Electronics”, “Information Technology” or “Consumer Electronics” sectors.