Repair plays a crucial role in circular and sustainable economies—but the people doing this work are often left out of the conversation. Within the project ‘Valuing "Repair" in Just Labour Transitions in the Rijnmond Region,’ researchers explored the everyday realities of repair workers in the Rijnmond region. Their findings reveal a diverse repair landscape: from innovative, community-oriented repair initiatives in gentrifying neighbourhoods to small, traditional repair businesses struggling to stay afloat. Across these contexts, repairers do far more than fix products—they provide skills, continuity, and social value in their communities.
Rethinking Repair for a Fair Circular Future
The article introduces a Fair Repair Practice Framework, built on three pillars: Fair Product Cycles, Fair Work, and Fair Repair Culture. Together, these pillars challenge current circular economy policies to look beyond materials and technologies, and to recognise repair as skilled, meaningful labour. By centring workers and their practices, the piece offers a compelling case for more inclusive and socially just sustainability transitions—making it essential reading for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners alike.
Curious to learn how repair can become a cornerstone of fair and resilient urban economies?
Read the full article to dive deeper.
Research team
The research was conducted by an interdisciplinary team comprising Joram Groen, Ilaha Abasli (PhD Researcher, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Ellen Loots (Associate Professor, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Lija Groenewoud van Vliet (Co-founder and Creative Director, IN4ART).