Modern kintsugi

You could argue that repairing a broken object and giving it a new life with added value by showing the cracks is a way of recycling and/or repurposing. Even though gold dust on its own is not sustainable and it takes a long time to repair, it is a practice that represents an ideology of sustainability. Waste is reduced and value is increased by prioritizing the restoration over disposal or replacement. However, repairing an object with the traditional method of kintsugi takes weeks and can be costly.

Still, nowadays there are DIY instructions and even DIY kits that can be used to repurpose a broken object. It might not be the traditional way and it might not be done by a lacquer master, but it does serve the idea that not everything has to be thrown away immediately and that obvious cracks in an object can also be seen as something beautiful. I, for one, think it is a great way to give more meaning to objects in a sustainable way.