Fast Company chooses U.S. PIRG’s Right to Repair Campaign as a finalist for 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards

BOSTON — The national business magazine Fast Company named U.S. PIRG’s right to repair campaign as a finalist today for the media outlet’s World Changing Ideas Awards. The nonprofit and advocacy group’s campaign was one of 9 finalists in the Politics & Policy category. 

Nathan Proctor, Right to Repair campaign director with U.S. PIRG, issued the following statement:

“I appreciate Fast Company’s recognition of the importance of the right to repair. It seems like such a simple premise; but it’s clear that we need to fight for it. 

“Make, use, toss and buy again. We are consuming way too many electronics, and manufacturers are locking many of those products against re-use and repair. This rapid increase in electronic waste spells trouble for the planet and the climate. While that’s a major inconvenience and cost if Apple is keeping you from independently repairing your phone or John Deere is keeping you from getting your tractor fixed, as we’ve seen with ventilators these days, it can interfere with the work of frontline medical staff.”

“In 2019, we rolled out an ambitious plan to get right to repair campaigns active in 20 states. This year, we expect some of those bills we introduced to become laws and set precedents as more and more Americans rally around an idea that is undeniable: When you own a product, you should be able to decide to fix it yourself, or hire whoever you want to do the job.”