ISU Repair Cafe has roots in the Right to Repair movement

On Monday, February 24, Sustainapalooza will once again host an ISU Repair Café in partnership with Ames Repair Café, University Library, the Department of Industrial Design, Department of Art and Visual Culture, and the ISU Office of Sustainability. Repair Café is a community event where volunteers help repair broken items to give them a longer life cycle. Repair Café aims to reduce waste, share tools and resources, teach basic maintenance, and help build self-reliance skills in our community. There’s no charge for any repairs during a Repair Café event.  

Community events like Repair Café have roots in a growing social movement around Right to Repair. The Right to Repair movement advocates for consumers' ability to repair and modify their own electronic devices and other products. This movement has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by concerns over environmental sustainability, consumer rights, and economic fairness. 

At its core, the Right to Repair seeks to address the growing issue of consumer waste, some of which is harmful to the environment, like electronic waste. Many manufacturers design products that are difficult or impossible to repair, leading to a throwaway culture where devices are discarded rather than fixed. In response to this trend of planned obsolescence, the Right to Repair movement empowers consumers by giving them more control over their purchases. It challenges the monopolistic practices of some manufacturers who restrict access to repair manuals, tools, and spare parts. By advocating for legislation that requires companies to provide these resources, the movement aims to foster a more competitive and fair market. 

Right to Repair is a crucial step towards a more sustainable, equitable, and consumer-friendly future. It promotes environmental responsibility, consumer empowerment, and economic resilience.  

Resources and further reading: 

The right to repair: reclaiming control over the things we own by Aaron Perzanowski. https://quicksearch.lib.iastate.edu/permalink/01IASU_INST/1s27pim/alma9921109014302756 

What is Right to Repair? By Elizabeth Chamberlain. https://www.ifixit.com/News/61140/what-is-right-to-repair  

ISU Repair Cafe at Sustainapalooza Calendar Event: https://www.event.iastate.edu/event/53872/?category=18&f=1&sy=2025&sm=02&sd=01&s=m