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
