Culture Shift

The Share Reuse Repair Initiative primarily focuses on reducing the friction for people to participate in the inner loops of the circular economy: sharing, reuse, and repair. The current pervasive culture emphasizes hyperconsumerism and material items as a means of establishing identity. However, these material items do not guarantee happiness. While many people can recognize the importance of SRR goods and services or like the idea of using them, their actions do not always reflect these beliefs. Through different prototypes, the SRRI aims to shift cultural demand towards SRR goods and services and bring people's actions in line with their beliefs and values..

SHIFT Framework Workshop

In December 2019, SRRI ran a workshop with Katherine White on the SHIFT Framework she developed for Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. The SHIFT Framework highlights ways to close the attitude - behaviour gap, or the gap that exists between someone thinking an issue is important and actually acting on it. Participants had the opportunity to workshop the SHIFT Framework and use the SHIFT workbook.

We received positive feedback about the workshop events, as well as a demand for a longer, more structured opportunity to investigate how the SHIFT Framework can be best applied within the SRR space. Stay tuned for upcoming SHIFT Framework programming and examples for how it can be applied.

Zero Waste Repair Events

Repair is a fundamental part of any circular system. When our items break, we need a way to fix them. The SRRI helped catalyze and provide strategic guidance for a new prototype - Zero Waste Repair Events - involving the City of Vancouver together with Free Geek, Repair Matters, Frameworq, and MetroVan Repair Cafes with the participation of Vancity staff.

Two events were held that engaged over 150 residents. The collaborative approach, data collection and promotion were tested and refined, and an attitude and interest survey was conducted at one event and four Vancity branches. Check out our Repair Working Group and Repair Events to learn more.

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Lighter Living Festival

The Lighter Living Festival emerged as a prototype from an engagement process of the Share Reuse Repair Initiative (SRRI) in 2018 involving over 20 business, government, and community actors. At the festival, the public would be able to engage with SRR goods and services, and SRR innovators would have the opportunity to market and raise awareness for their goods and services while also gauging reception from the public. Attendees will learn about and engage in Lighter Living practices. The SRRI will utilize resources and connections to inform the development of a Lighter Living Festival with the City of Vancouver. Click here to learn more about the Lighter Living initiative.