Sustainable Planet

The Fight for the Right to Repair: Challenging Planned Obsolescence

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The first segment of our episode focused on how and why manufacturers intentionally design products into obsolescence. From hobbyists to environmentalists, a rising movement fights for the right to repair and modify their purchases, extending the life of their belongings. In Part II, Jorden and Kimberly consider how, despite corporate resistance, RTR advocates persist with community initiatives and a push for government intervention.

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

  • Why "smart" appliances should be dumber
  • How the increasing shortage of skilled repair labor benefits MNCs
  • Why MNCs hate iFixit
  • How community initiatives promote repair culture
  • Why ‘you fix it’ equals ‘you break it’ for warranties
  • How the economic pressures and unexpected free time of COVID renewed interest in DIY repairs
  • Just how big the gap is between consumer needs and manufacturer support

    • Recommended Resources

    • About RTR 
    • Stats on the lack of skilled labor for repair work
    • Just how long Sweden’s been ahead in the RTR game
    • The EU’s RTR Directive
    • The US on RTR
    • Interesting findings revealing the surprising costs of RTR
    • Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post
      • ...more
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      Sustainable PlanetBy Kimberly Weir