The Bristol Repair Coalition is a diverse alliance of community groups, social enterprises, local businesses, academic institutions, and city partners working together to rethink how we use and care for the materials, products, and waste in our city.
Founded in March 2024 through the Repair Acts initiative, the Coalition aims to create a regenerative material culture that prioritises repair, reuse, and resourcefulness — moving beyond simple recycling toward systemic change.
A City-Wide Movement for Regenerative Material Culture
The Coalition brings together a wide range of members, including community organisations, social enterprises, Bristol City Council, Bristol Waste, academic partners from UWE Bristol, Bristol University, and Winchester School of Art, as well as local businesses and repair specialists.
Together, this network collaborates to:
- Support and connect repair and reuse initiatives across Bristol.
- Advocate for policies that embed repair and reuse into city planning and waste management.
- Build skills and capacity for sustainable repair in communities.
- Foster an inclusive, participatory approach rooted in design justice.
Moving Repair and Reuse to the Forefront
While recycling remains an important part of waste management, repair and reuse offer a more impactful way to extend product lifespans, reduce emissions, and strengthen local economies. The Coalition is committed to making repair and reuse accessible, visible, and valued across Bristol.
This approach is timely given rising waste treatment costs driven by new government regulations, alongside ongoing social challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. Repair and reuse initiatives not only reduce waste but also help people save money and build community resilience.
Partnering with Bristol City Council
The Coalition recently engaged with Bristol City Council to align efforts with the Council’s new Waste Strategy. Both parties see potential in embedding repair and reuse more deeply into future waste contracts and city-wide policies.
Bristol Waste Company’s reuse shops have already made a significant impact by diverting thousands of items from disposal, keeping valuable materials in circulation and reducing landfill. Beyond environmental benefits, these shops provide affordable goods to local residents, helping to ease the cost-of-living pressures faced by many in Bristol.
There is strong potential to expand reuse and repair facilities and services across the city. The Coalition is keen to work with its partners to explore how existing successes can be built upon, creating a more robust circular economy that delivers lasting environmental and social benefits.
Exploring a Circular Economy Demonstrator
Inspired by successful initiatives like the Manchester Renew Hub, Berlin’s Nochmall, and ReTuna in Eskilstuna (Sweden), the Coalition is developing plans for a Bristol Circular Economy Demonstrator — a space to refurbish, repair, and resell furniture, electronics, and bicycles, and more, while creating jobs and training opportunities.
This demonstrator aims to support green skills development, provide affordable goods, and reduce emissions by keeping materials in use longer. A workshop is scheduled for July 2025 to help define its scope and build stakeholder support.
Mapping Bristol’s Repair Ecosystem
To highlight the city’s existing repair and reuse activities, the Coalition has created a public map showcasing community repair cafés, specialist services, social enterprises, and training opportunities throughout Bristol.
This resource helps identify gaps and opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Explore the Bristol Repair Map
Looking Forward
The Bristol Repair Coalition is committed to ongoing collaboration to strengthen repair and reuse across the city. By working together—across sectors, communities, and disciplines—the Coalition seeks to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient Bristol.
For more information or to get involved, please contact kat.corbett@uwe.ac.uk.