The World Economic Forum writes that the world is predicted to produce 75 million metric tonnes of e-waste by 2030 per the UN Global E-waste Monitor Report. In response, free repair cafes and government incentives are popping up across the globe.
The Oeko-Institut in Germany sustains:
- A TV used for 13 years instead of six saves around 660kg of greenhouse gases
- Smartphones for seven years instead of two and a half saves around 100kg of greenhouse gases.
Consequently, incentives are appearing as:
- Repair Bonuses: Austria and the German state of Thuringia introduced a publicly financed repair bonus to reimburse consumers for part of their costs.
- Repair Cafes: Run by volunteers, encourage consumers to bring in their products. In Belgium, the cafes can assist in improving the fit and appearance of clothing.
- Right to Repair Laws: France passed the Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Act (AGEC) in 2020.