Launched in London, it urged businesses to host their own fix-it events and repair workshops. The movement has since spread to cities including Manchester, and I’d love to see it continue spreading across the country, including here in Staffordshire where repair and reuse already play a strong role. It also comes at a time when the wider right-to-repair conversation is gaining real momentum in the UK, with growing recognition that repairing products should be easier, more accessible and more economically viable. For now, this week provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on something the technology sector can no longer ignore: the true cost of our throwaway culture.
Research commissioned by ReLondon, suggests the UK is spending an estimated £15 billion every year replacing items that could have been repaired. Around 335 million repairable goods, roughly six per person, are thrown away annually. Electrical devices are among the most commonly discarded items. Mobile devices in particular, are one of the fastest-growing contributors to e-waste, often ending up at the tip or spending years forgotten in drawers and cupboards. For businesses and organisations, this is not just an environmental issue. It is a financial and operational one. In the current economic climate, every penny counts.
Our experience shows that many organisations replace mobile devices on fixed cycles, typically as often as every 18 to 24 months, regardless of their condition.
Screens crack. Batteries degrade. Performance slows. The default response is often simple: replace the device. But consider the alternative:
- A battery replacement can extend a device’s life by at least two years.
- A screen repair costs a fraction of the price of a new handset.
- Refurbished devices can re-enter circulation rather than entering the waste stream.
Multiply this across hundreds or thousands of employees and the financial implications quickly become significant.
There is also the issue of compliance and sustainability reporting. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. As ESG frameworks tighten and stakeholders scrutinise environmental performance, the way organisations manage their technology lifecycle is increasingly becoming a board-level issue. Repair Week should not only inspire individuals to fix a phone screen. It should encourage organisations to rethink how they manage their technology assets.
Extend Device Lifecycles
Move away from automatic refresh cycles. Replace devices only when necessary and build maintenance and repair into your IT strategy.
Partner With Professional Repair Providers
Work with accredited repair and refurbishment specialists, such as TMT First, to handle battery replacements, screen repairs and diagnostics at scale. This maintains security, compliance and performance standards while reducing both waste and cost.
Introduce Corporate Trade-In and Buy-Back Schemes
When devices genuinely reach end-of-life within your organisation, trade-in or buy-back schemes ensure they are securely collected, data is properly wiped and devices can either be refurbished for a second life or responsibly recycled.
Educate Your Workforce
Encourage employees to treat business devices as valuable assets rather than consumables. Simple awareness around charging habits, protective cases and reporting issues early can significantly extend device lifespan.
Repairing rather than replacing is not just environmentally responsible. It also:
- Reduces capital expenditure
- Supports circular economy targets
- Strengthens sustainability reporting
One of the biggest barriers to repair, both for consumers and businesses, is confidence. Concerns often centre around warranty, security, longevity and reliability.
However, the repair ecosystem has evolved significantly. Diagnostics are sophisticated. Parts quality is high, particularly when repairs are carried out by manufacturer-approved partners with access to genuine parts, specialist tools and official repair procedures. Data security processes are robust. The idea that repaired devices are inherently inferior is now outdated.
As an industry, we need to normalise maintenance in technology in the same way we do with cars or industrial machinery. When something needs attention, we repair it. Our mobile devices should be treated no differently. Repair Week serves as a timely reminder. It offers businesses the chance to pause and reconsider how they manage their technology assets.
At TMT First, we believe the future of mobile technology is not just about faster processors or better cameras. It is about longevity, resilience and smarter lifecycle management.
Businesses that embed repair into their technology strategy will not only reduce e-waste. They will cut costs, strengthen ESG performance and build more resilient and sustainable digital operations.