Resilience by circularity and sharing culture at households as precondition for climate-neutral cities: "Circ-in-Town = Circ@Home + Circular services"
Circ@Home
Interview: Household Experiences of Reuse and Repair in Kerava
23 June 2026
This interview explores how households in Kerava engage with reuse, repair, and refurbishment in their everyday lives. It is conducted with one of the project partners, Jalotus, and their pilot households engaged in testing circular initiatives. It identifies barriers such as time, cost, and access, as well as enabling support factors.
Questions to Jalotus circular economy center:
What are the main challenges households in Kerava face when trying to adopt more reuse, repair, and refurbishment practices in their daily lives?
We think that the main challenges for households in Kerava are a busy lifestyle (lack of time and energy to adopt new, more circular habits), a lack of places where everyday solutions are made easy, the high cost of repair and refurbishment services due to the 25.5% tax, as well as a need for personal consulting, motivation, and community building to help households start changing their habits toward a more circular lifestyle.
We think that the main challenges for households in Kerava are a busy lifestyle (lack of time and energy to adopt new, more circular habits), a lack of places where everyday solutions are made easy, the high cost of repair and refurbishment services due to the 25.5% tax, as well as a need for personal consulting, motivation, and community building to help households start changing their habits toward a more circular lifestyle.
What kind of support, resources, or services do households need most to make circular practices part of their everyday routines?
In addition to a cultural shift toward a slower lifestyle, there is a need for places where everyday household items and material circulation solutions are available under one roof, lower-cost repair and refurbishment services, and access to personal advice and/or motivation from a community or a professional to help households with practical matters.
Based on your experience, what are the key factors that municipalities should consider when developing initiatives that promote household circularity?
Participation of different types of households in the preparation process and decision-making is essential to ensure that solutions genuinely reflect households’ needs. Communicating through a website is not enough. Multiple approaches are needed: raising awareness, establishing test groups, and engaging larger numbers of municipal households in challenges. Rewarding households for their efforts can also be effective.
Feedback from the Kerava residents:
What first got you interested in repairing, reusing, or sharing things instead of buying new ones?
Resident 1: I have been interested in repairing and reusing objects all my life. It has been part of my family’s heritage for as long as I can remember. Sharing items, such as gardening machines, was common in our neighborhood. Nowadays, this is no longer as common, and that is one reason why I wanted to be part of Jalotus Ry. It has also been interesting to share ideas about a more sustainable lifestyle with other members.
Resident 2:I feel it is not a new practice but a renewed one as I grow older and see all the material that is produced. I don’t have the skills from my ancestors but I am practicing while trying to take better care of things around me. Parenting has increased the need for things and also increased my interest in second hand shopping.
Can you describe a repair, reuse, or refurbishment activity that you found particularly useful or enjoyable?
Resident 1: I love repairing, restoring, and updating old furniture. There are hardly any new pieces of furniture in my home. Most have been given to me, found in the garbage or at recycling bins, or bought from reuse centers.
Resident 2: I really enjoy searching for and finding thoughtful presents second-hand or self-made. I have gifted curated collections of library books and films, as well as crafted toys and clothes made from repurposed materials. It makes me happy when something is designed to be repaired or upcycled.
Has anything changed in the way you shop, repair, or use products recently?
Resident 1: I guess that I have been more critical of my consuming habits. I have become more thoughtful and reserved in my purchases.
Resident 2: Lately, I’ve tried to refrain from shopping, even second-hand, as I feel I should limit my possessions to things I can properly take care of.
What makes it easy—or difficult—for you to choose repair, reuse, or sharing over buying new items?
Resident 1: How well I am able to manage my time has a huge impact on my recycling and repairing habits. If there were fewer everyday obligations and full-time jobs, there would be more time and energy available for repairing and reusing. Finding new ways to live a sustainable lifestyle requires more time in the consumer society we live in today.
Resident 2: There is sometimes a mismatch between my needs and the available options. For example, buying new items is often the easiest solution, while doing things differently requires more time, effort, or flexibility. Not having a car makes second-hand furniture shopping an adventure. Wanting to support local producers may require committing to a specific time and place for collection. Most appliances and electronics have low repairability, and repairing clothing requires skill and patience. What makes it easier is systemic support, the availability of accessible options, and a sense of community, as well as not being under pressure to solve an immediate problem (such as needing the right-sized rainwear for my child by tomorrow).
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details
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Homepage
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Project typeCore Project
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ImplementationMarch 2025 - February 2028
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StatusOngoing
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Contribution to EUSBSRPolicy Area Innovation
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Target groups
- Interest group
- Local public authority
- NGO
- Small and medium enterprise
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Social media
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