E-commerce platforms are the vital internal link to sustainable repair and upcycling communities
Daniel R. Cahoy, 2023 – Robert G. and Caroline Schwartz Professor of Business Law, Research Director for the Center for the Business of Sustainability, Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University “Trademark’s Grip Over Sustainability” Colorado Law Review, v94, n4, 6/1, https://lawreview.colorado.edu/print/volume-94/trademarks-grip-over-sustainability/ //DH
Of course, repair communities have existed for some time, and it is not a surprise that owners continue to have a strong desire to maintain product viability. What is different now is the existence and influence of the internet. Now, repair and upcycling communities have a vast meeting space for exchanging information.[56] It is possible to find replacement parts for just about any appliance,[57] car,[58] or electronic good[59] online. Additionally, communities exist for selling upcycled products. One of the most prominent is Etsy, which allows individuals to sell a variety of crafts and goods, including such esoteric items as upcycled Pop-Tart boxes, bags made of old Levi’s jeans, and lamps make of empty gin bottles.[60] The strength of such communities, which are becoming ever more robust, has significantly increased the options available for extending product lifecycles.