Originally published at: https://therestartproject.org/right-to-repair/business-letter-2/
Back in July, we sent a business-focused letter to Steve Reed, the then Secretary of State for DEFRA, the UK government’s environment department. We wanted to leave him in no doubt that UK businesses and communities back ambitious policies to support reuse and repair over recycling.
Fast forward to September and in the recent government reshuffle, Steve Reed was moved to another department, with Emma Reynolds MP becoming the new DEFRA Secretary of State. With Steve Reed championing the circular economy from his first speech, we knew that his replacement was a risk. And in Emma Reynolds’ first announcement of her priorities, the Circular Economy was missing, reinforcing the concern that this crucial issue is less likely to receive the attention it so sorely needs.
The good news is we know there is a lot of support for repair and reuse, and we can prove it.
So we’ve just sent the open letter from July to Emma Reynolds, with another 15 signatories added, and we pointed out that the Repair and reuse Declaration has now been signed by more than 500 businesses, community groups, institutions and politicians.
With 76 MPs now signed up to the declaration, we’re achingly close to achieving the milestone of 100 MPs. This will be a great opportunity to highlight the political, institutional and public support for repair and reuse at a key time.
We’d love to reach this milestone before the end of the year (in fact we’re already planning an event in parliament to celebrate in early 2026). This will be a particularly impactful time, as the Circular Economy Taskforce recommendations are likely to be open for consultation at that time (more on this below).
Can you help us reach this milestone?
If your MP hasn’t already, can you ask them to support the Repair & Reuse Declaration?
Ask your MP to sign the Declaration
We know it’s hard to get an MPs attention by e-mail, so perhaps you can invite them to visit your business, repair café or other repair initiative to celebrate International Repair Day in October – or any time in the Autumn. If they come along, it’s a great opportunity to get a photo of them signing the Declaration. There’s more information and ideas about repair day, including activities to highlight the e-waste scandal that is Windows support ending, here.
Please let us know if you’re inviting them, want help with talking points, or need a declaration poster for them to sign.
Circular Economy Taskforce consultation
The recommendations of the Circular Economy Taskforce are due to be released in Autumn. A consultation period will then open for around 10-12 weeks. Consultations tend to be dense, and a little hard to get your head round, so we’re planning to help you engage in the following ways:
- Releasing our take on the recommendations
- Highlighting the relevant parts of the consultation and drafting some suggested responses, to which you can add information about your own projects
- Organising a webinar to talk through the recommendations
There’s a lot going on in the next 6 months, and it’s brilliant to have such broad support for the declaration. Between us we can ensure this opportunity to shift the system in favour of repair and reuse is not lost.