Repair Cafe Wales saves over one million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Repair Café Wales has helped save more than one million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Welsh Government.

The figure was announced as the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, launched Fix it February at a pop-up repair café in Cardiff.

The year-round, free repair service has prevented emissions equivalent to an average petrol car travelling 11.2 million miles or driving the length of the A470 more than 60,000 times.

Welsh Government investment of around £14 million through the Circular Economy Fund has supported the establishment of more than 130 repair cafés across Wales.

The centres rely on skilled volunteers to repair a wide range of household items, from clothing and small electricals to everyday appliances.

Wales already operates one of the highest-performing municipal recycling systems globally, while the Beyond Recycling strategy sets out plans to move further up the waste hierarchy by encouraging repair and reuse.

The Deputy First Minister said: “Wales is already second in the world for recycling, and now we are building a culture where repair and reuse become second nature.

“Reaching one million kilograms of carbon saved through our repair café network is an incredible milestone.

“When we repair rather than replace, we are tackling the climate and nature crisis and saving money.

“I am asking everyone in Wales to join Fix it February and give a broken item a second life for free.”

Repair cafés help households reduce costs, support skills development and provide opportunities for social connection, contributing to Wales’s wider green growth ambitions.

Phoebe Brown, Director of Repair Café Wales, said: “This achievement reflects the dedication of volunteers and communities across Wales who are delivering real environmental and social benefits through repair.

“Repair cafés are about much more than fixing broken items. They help people save money, learn skills, and connect with their community whilst taking practical action on climate change.

“Fix it February is a brilliant opportunity for more people to get involved whether by visiting a repair café, learning new skills, or supporting a repair business in their local area.”

Alongside repair cafés, the Welsh Government also funds Benthyg Cymru, a network of libraries that allows people to borrow items instead of purchasing them.

Community reuse projects are also operating across Wales, including community fridges in Monmouthshire and reuse schemes at household waste recycling centres in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.