The Vienna Repair Network (Reparaturnetzwerk Wien) is the umbrella organisation for over 100 specialist repair firms. With their rich fund of experience, the experts of the Repair Network can fix everything from old furniture to state-of-the-art smartphones. They prioritise repair over replacement and will always try this first instead of rushing to recommend buying a new product. Some of the companies in the network also offer fully tested second-hand goods for sale.

Promoting sustainability since 1999

It began in 1999 with 23 member enterprises, and has developed in a very positive way ever since: the Repair Network now includes more than 100 specialist repair firms, and the range of repair services has increased in line with the membership. “The Vienna Repair Network places great emphasis on service and quality. Vienna’s repair experts can fix almost anything – and by promoting sustainability they make a hugely important contribution to our climate action efforts,” says Executive City Councillor for Climate Action, Jürgen Czernohorszky. The Vienna Repair Network is supported by the City of Vienna and coordinated by the environmental advice centre DIE UMWELTBERATUNG.

The Repair Voucher initiative continues

Since the network’s inception, its member firms have carried out over 900,000 repairs. In doing so, they have saved countless items from landing on the rubbish tip – from household appliances to leather goods and furniture.

“The Vienna Repair Voucher launched in autumn 2020 was very well received, and we’ll be repeating the initiative in spring 2021 to motivate even more people in Vienna to get their broken items repaired. The voucher makes repairs much cheaper, because the City of Vienna subsidises the repair costs by up to 50 per cent, to a maximum of 100 euro per repair bill,” announces Karin Büchl-Krammerstädter, Head of the City of Vienna’s Municipal Department for Environmental Protection (MA 22).

The circular economy in action

Smart City Wien has successfully established itself as a leading centre of the circular economy and smart added value, and its expertise is sought after worldwide. One of the goals of the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy is to keep products and materials and their value circulating within the economy for as long as possible. This helps to minimise waste, prolong product lifetimes and conserve resources, as well as saving and creating jobs in the repair sector.

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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Vienna Repair Network contributes to the implementation of SDG 12 responsible consumption and production.

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Contact

DIE UMWELTBERATUNG

E-Mail: sabine.seidl@umweltberatung.at

Website: www.umweltberatung.at