On September 2, our founder Martine Postma received a prestigious sustainability award for her contribution to a greener world. As the initiator of the now-global Repair Café movement, she was celebrated on Sustainability Tuesday in The Hague. Joanna van der Zanden, chair of Repair Café International, accepted the award on her behalf.
What is Sustainability Tuesday?
Every year on the first Tuesday in September, a few selected people in the Netherlands who contribute to a fairer, more sustainable society are honored in The Hague. The goal: to make sustainable initiatives more visible to politicians and the public.
Martine was in good company: NRC journalist and podcaster Wouter van Noort and Herenboeren founder Geert van de Veer were also recognized. In earlier years, winners included astronaut Wubbo Ockels, activist Marjan Minnesma, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and politician Frans Timmermans.
Praise for her perseverance
The jury of the Sustainability Award praised Martine’s vision, determination, and—most importantly for sustainability—her perseverance. They were impressed by the number of Repair Cafés worldwide, the RepairMonitor, and her contribution to the “Right to Repair” legislation. “Thanks in large part to Martine, there is now much more attention for repair in society and among the general public,” the jury said. “Martine is a tireless advocate for making repair accessible to everyone.”
Love, patience, and a touch of activism
Because Martine could not attend in person, Joanna van der Zanden accepted the award on her behalf. In her short speech, Joanna thanked all 55,000 volunteers, partners, staff, sponsors, researchers, and students. “Our movement is vibrant and alive. Repair is not a trend but an essential part of a sustainable society. And as long as it’s needed, we will continue to pass it on to future generations—with love, patience, and a little bit of activism,” she said.
Photo: Coen Halmans
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