How North Rhine-Westphalia Aims to Break the Record for Most Repaired Items in One Month What if thousands of people across an entire region came together to repair instead of replace? What if a broken toaster, a torn jacket, or a damaged bicycle became part of a collective movement showing that repair is alive and well? In October 2026, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) will aim to break the record for the most repaired items in a month! What will happen? Throughout October 2026, citizens, repair initiatives, Fab Labs, craftspeople, businesses, manufacturers, retailers, and community organisations across NRW will join forces in an ambitious attempt to achieve the highest number of repaired items ever documented within a single month. The initiative is part of the Circular Week 2026, co-hosted by the CSCP and INNOWO and is coordinated by FAB Region, a regional circular economy project in which the CSCP is a project partner. “Our research identified an inspiring benchmark: in 2024, the UK-wide “Big Fix” campaign documented 3,177 successful repairs within one month. Together, NRW aims to surpass that achievement by reaching more than 4,000 repaired items. But this effort is about far more than numbers.”, says Stephan Schaller, CSCP Senior Expert who has been working on the topic for over a decade. What we want to achieve The record attempt aims to demonstrate a simple but powerful message: repair is big, diverse, and once again a real option. Every repaired item extends product lifetimes, conserves valuable resources, reduces waste, and helps build practical skills and stronger communities. “Current political developments like the Right to Repair or Ecodesign directives give us a big boost towards finally turning our back on throw-away-culture and towards a real repair society. With this world record attempt and the Repair & Share Festival in Wuppertal we want to shine a bright light on the incredible power of community to come together and embrace this change in thinking and, ultimately, behaviour.”, shares Nils Kreft, CSCP Communication Coordinator. Who can join? Participation is open to everyone. Whether you are part of a repair café, a crafts business, a specialist workshop, a retailer, a manufacturer, a local initiative, a network, or simply someone with a screwdriver and a willingness to help, there are many ways to get involved. What can be repaired? Repairs can include electronics, household appliances, bicycles, textiles, furniture, and many other everyday products. Throughout the month, successful repairs can be documented via an online platform in just a few clicks. Participants will be able to share their repair stories, upload photos of repaired items, and even enter prize draws for attractive rewards and vouchers. Repair & Share Festival on 31 October 2026 The initiative will culminate on 31 October 2026 with the Repair & Share Festival in Wuppertal, a vibrant public celebration of repair, reuse, sharing, and circular creativity. Alongside repair activities, visitors can expect opportunities to exchange clothing, learn new skills, meet local repair experts, and connect with others who believe that keeping products in use matters. Many repair initiatives from across NRW have already committed to participating, and a growing number of companies are exploring ways to contribute through repair services, sponsorship, communication activities, or hands-on engagement. Interested in becoming part of the movement? Get in touch with Stephan Schaller!