Martine Postma

Martine Postma is a notable Dutch environmentalist, journalist, and the founder of the Repair Café initiative. Born in 1970, she has made significant contributions to sustainability and community engagement through her work.

Early Career

Postma began her career as a journalist, writing for publications such as De Groene Amsterdammer. Initially focused on higher education, she later shifted her attention to environmental issues, emphasizing waste reduction and sustainability. Her efforts included creating guides aimed at reducing waste in local communities.12

Repair Café Initiative

In 2009, Postma founded the first Repair Café in Amsterdam after noticing the high volume of discarded items. This initiative encourages people to repair their broken goods instead of throwing them away. The Repair Café concept quickly gained traction, leading to the establishment of nearly 1,700 locations worldwide by 2019.13 She also established the Repair Café International Foundation to support similar projects globally.1

Advocacy and Recognition

Beyond her work with Repair Cafés, Postma has been active in advocating for policy changes in the European Union to promote the repair economy over a throwaway culture. Her contributions have earned her several awards, including recognition in Trouw's 'Sustainable 100' list and the Leopold Kohr Prize in 2022.12

Current Role

Currently, Martine Postma serves as a Medewerker toezicht (Enforcement Officer) at the Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM), where she continues her commitment to consumer protection and market regulation.4

Her extensive experience in journalism and environmental advocacy positions her as a key figure in promoting sustainability and community resilience.