Raising awareness - The non-consumption of objects
About this good practice
- "Repair cafés" are workshops for repairing objects. They can be open every day, once a week or less. They can be mobile or fixed in the same workshop.
They generally work with volunteers who are trained in repairing objects (hoovers, lamps, machines of all kinds, etc.), computer equipment and bicycles. People come with the objects they need to repair and repair them with the help of volunteers.
- Objecthèques are places where objects can be lent out - L'objethèque de Cornouailles
Objethèques are fixed locations, operating like a bookshop on a membership basis. You'll find tents, barbecues, sewing machines, DIY tools, lawnmowers... anything that's useful from time to time and can be shared.
- Gratiférias are events for donating objects - The Cornwall object library
The Gratiférias are based on the donation of objects. These are events where participants can both give and take items for free.
These initiatives require a great deal of communication and commitment from participants and volunteers. They often require subsidies.
The organisers of these actions are organisations or groups whose aim is to help transform consumer society.
These initiatives encourage a change of perspective, moving away from consumerism towards resourcefulness and cooperation.
Resources needed
- Repair Café: Contract with the cities (around €350 per half-day). 1 employee & volunteers + training for repair volunteers.
- Objethèque: Voluntary basis but seeking subsidies for salaried staff. 120 members €60/year.
- Gratiféria: Requires skills in communication and event organisation.
Evidence of success
Repair Café: A lot of requests from local authorities to organise repair cafés, particularly in neighbourhoods. Average attendance: between 10 and 20 people. Between 7 and 10 volunteers per workshop organised in 2023. 60% of objects repaired.
Objethèque: 120 members in 1 year. More and more requests for membership. Need for one (ideally 2) employees.
Gratiferia: last one organised by ALOEN : 130 participants and 150 kg of objects donated and taken back. 12 volunteers.
Potential for learning or transfer
This action, which advocates frugality, could be an inspiration for other regions, as it aims to raise awareness of the consumption of objects and our impact on the environment by offering concrete alternative solutions: repairing, borrowing and donating.
To set it up (for the 3 sub-actions) you need :
- A support structure (association, collective, local authority, etc.)
- Organisational and communication skills (and repair café expertise).
- Involvement of volunteers.
- A venue, which can be temporary for the gratiferia and repair café, but permanent for the objecthèque, which needs storage space.