Repairing for resilience: How the Right-to-Repair Movement is Powering Sustainability and Operational Transformation in Canada

Amid multifaceted environmental concerns worldwide, the Right-to-Repair (R2R) movement emerges as a powerful driver of both operational resilience and environmental responsibility. Rooted in the principles of responsible manufacturing and consumption, consumer empowerment and the notion of circular economy (reduce, reuse, and regenerate), this movement challenges the status quo of planned obsolescence, where products are deliberately designed to have a limited usable lifespan, contributing to the mounting volume of electronic waste (e-waste). This obsolescence is largely contributed to manufacturers’ tendency to shorten product lifespans, restriction of repair information and access to parts and tools through monopolies on repair services. The R2R movement aims to empower consumers with the ability to repair, modify, and extend the lifespan of products, especially electronics, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption. Reflecting this global momentum, Canada introduced Bill C-244 in 2023, marking a significant step in aligning national policy with global right-to-repair initiatives. This article explores how Canada’s Bill C-244 is driving sustainability and operational transformation by supporting the goals of the R2R movement.