The University of Cambridge has launched its own repair café initiative in partnership with the local charity Cambridge Carbon Footprint. The effort is part of a broader movement in Cambridgeshire that encourages residents to repair personal items rather than discard them, supporting a more circular economy and reducing waste.
The university held its first repair café at the West Hub in April, followed by another event at the School of Clinical Medicine in October. John Nicolson, Technician Development Advisor, led these events with support from the Environmental Sustainability Team and Cambridge Carbon Footprint. According to organizers, about 80 participants contributed 87 volunteer hours, resulting in 53 items repaired and an estimated 96 kilograms of waste prevented.
Currently, the initiative focuses on repairing personal belongings rather than lab equipment. Organizers say this approach not only reduces indirect emissions associated with supply chains and waste transport but also helps strengthen connections among university departments and with local partners.
Technicians have played a central role in establishing the repair cafés at Cambridge. "Technicians are incredibly skilled problem-solvers - practical, inventive, and quietly integral to the University’s success - and they have been at the heart of the repair café movement in the University," said organizers. They added that it was technicians who first proposed hosting such events on campus.
Looking ahead, another university repair café is scheduled for March 28 during the Cambridge Festival 2026. A dedicated webpage has been launched where university members can sign up as repairers or suggest demonstration workshops. Departments will soon be able to organize their own events using a toolkit provided by the university.
Additional initiatives supporting sustainability include furniture relocation services through Facilities Management Logistics, participation in reuse platforms like Warp It and Equipment Sharing Database, as well as digital marketplaces for buying and selling items within the university community.
John Nicolson and the Environmental Sustainability Team run the University of Cambridge Repair Café Network together with Cambridge Carbon Footprint.
Information about technical staff involved can be found on the Technician Development website. Details about environmental commitments are available on the Environmental Sustainability website.
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