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HomeYork Environmental Sustainability InstituteNews 2026YESI research hits the headlines as International Fellows feature in Which?

YESI research hits the headlines as International Fellows feature in Which?

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Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2026

Millions of functional smartphones, laptops and tablets are currently sitting forgotten in drawers across the UK. To tackle this growing mountain of electronic waste, consumers are being urged to rethink how they manage their old devices - a message reinforced by the latest research from our YESI International Fellows.
Which? logo and picture of a man and a woman in a shop looking at phones

Dr Ulrike Ehgartner from the University of York and Dr Mustafa Enes Tepe from Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University have seen their collaborative project, The Right to Repair Movement, step squarely into the public eye. The duo were interviewed and quoted extensively in a recent Which? article exploring why so much usable tech goes to waste.

Turning academic insight into consumer action

The feature highlights a critical environmental challenge. Rapid upgrade cycles and a lack of compatible parts are driving a massive influx of electronic waste. Dr Ehgartner explained to Which? that a large portion of this old tech ends up in the hands of informal recyclers, where local communities extract materials using hazardous chemicals and heat - creating severe health and environmental risks. 

By contributing to high-profile national media, our fellows are directly translating complex academic concepts into practical, everyday choices for consumers. This coverage highlights the vital importance of the YESI International Fellows scheme, proving that our funding drives meaningful change far beyond the university walls.

Driving the circular economy forward

The overarching goal of this cross-border collaboration is to understand how different cultures and generations view the right to repair. By bridging the gap between academic theory and public awareness, the project aims to deliver tangible benefits:

  • Uncovering how age and cultural backgrounds influence our willingness to fix rather than replace broken gadgets
  • Providing policymakers and businesses with actionable recommendations to make circular economies truly viable
  • Challenging the restrictive repair policies of global tech manufacturers to ensure user-friendly fixes are accessible to everyone

This outstanding press coverage shows just how influential the work of our fellows can be, taking cutting-edge sustainability research straight to the consumers who need to hear it most.

Read the full Which? article "Not got the latest phone? This is why you're an inspiration".