The Right To Repair

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without
During WW2, everyone was encouraged to  fix, darn, stick, or whatever was needed to repair their items. That way they lasted longer, and precious resources did not need to be used making new items needlessly.

This is a good principle IMHO, and one I have long adhered to. Socks darned, zips replaced, screws tightened, buttons sewn back on...and we have haberdashery, adhesives and tools galore in this house to fix things when and where we can.
Bob has been struggling with computer printer issues recently. He's a clever chap and started his working life as an electronics whizzkid - so can often get the IT doing what he wants. But he was very frustrated to find not only was the printer unfixable - the spare inkjet cartridges are no use to him anymxore."That model is 4 years old - the new printers take a different spec" said the helpful chap at the company.

We are so accustomed to throwing away things the moment they go wrong, often because the manufacturers don't make repairing these easy or cost effective. But the EU hopes to change that with its planned "Right to Repair" Legislation [OK we will ignore the B word for a minute] Read the details here. A number of states in the USA are looking at similar legislation.

It is wrong that manufacturers make it hard for us to buy spares, or seal the mechanism in inaccessible plastic cases. But it is not just enough for the products to be fixable, we need to change our own mindsets about regarding repair rather replacement as the default position - and we must teach the younger generations to do the same. 
It was reported in the press last week that the Queen has been using the same handbags for 50 years. Now I'm sure she has lots of bags and plenty of wardrobe space so one bag will last ages. But the principle is a good one. Use it for as long as you can, if there's nothing wrong with it, and if there is a fault then try to fix it.