This policy paper is based on discussions, interviews and workshops conducted in the course of the project. We would like to thank all of the interviewees and, in particular, the practice partners associated with the project for the exciting and insightful collaboration and exchange of views.
What the readers take away with them?
- Companies act under uncertainty on the market. Their own sensors are not sufficient to perceive all social concerns.
- Civil society actors, such as environmental and consumer organizations, call for 'upscaling' environmental and health issues in companies. One way: Through the development and provision of apps and activities of the repair community, citizens are activated – not only in their role as purchasers, but also as impulse and knowledge providers.
- Apps (such as 'Replace PalmOil', 'ReplacePlastic' and 'ToxFox') and the activities of the repair community bundle the interests of citizens and influence corporate and political decision-making horizons.
- The work of the app operators and the repair community is primarily voluntary. They cannot be a substitute for political measures, but they bundle civil society concerns in the run-up to political activities and measures. To preserve and also expand such approaches, volunteerism must be strengthened and the activities of operators must be supported.
- Central to this is financial, infrastructural and organizational support for initiatives and for volunteers who want to become active as a civil society organization or as an individual.
- The goal of the apps and the repair community is to achieve a comprehensive transformation of the market. First of all, this concerns companies that take up the impulses. Securing this on a broad scale requires the intervention of politics to subject all competitors to a level playing field.
Link to publication