Overconsumption is a major problem that will lead to depletion of resources, unnecessary emissions, and waste if not addressed urgently. Today, products are often replaced when they are still in working order or have repairable damage which is driven by materialistic views in society. Major system change is needed to shift away from materialistic views by making the most of products we already have and avoiding unnecessary purchases. However a major hurdle to this system change is difficulties facing repairing broken goods, where for many products the only repair option is through the original manufacturer which can often be costly and inconvenient. Due to the difficulty and cost of repair, millions of fixable phones and electronics end up getting thrown out to get replaced with a new device. The right for consumers to repair their products is a major part of solving the overconsumption issue. 

By taking action to initiate change in overconsumption, the world will be able to sustain long term availability of material through sustainable resource use. We believe that such change will be able to save unnecessary resources from being wasted for future use. Although it may not impact us directly today, we do not want to see people in the future struggling to live their lives due to the lack of resources that could have easily been saved if unnecessary overconsumption was controlled in the past. Also, by reducing overconsumption, not only is the direct resource saved, but the negative impacts on the environment that occur during the process of production, such as unnecessary emission and waste, can be reduced. 

Addressing the problem of overconsumption requires many changes to our current system of production and a shift away from a materialistic mindset and culture. An example of possible systemic change is the introduction of the right to repair laws in countries around the world. Currently, Canada is in the process of reviewing Bill C-272: Amend the copyright act (diagnosis, maintenance, or repair), which would make it easier for consumers to repair their devices without infringing on the current copyright laws (Parliament of Canada, n.d.). It will be up for a third reading in Parliament soon, so help us in letting our MPs know how to vote! 

Support us in making it easier for consumers to repair their broken electronics by signing this petition!

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