[Survey] 56.9% of Users Want to Keep Using Kitchen Tools Even When Broken, but Most Common Response Is 'Endure and Keep Using' – A Dilemma

Favorite Kitchen Tools

K&A Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Yuichi Mune), an importer and distributor of daily goods such as the manual chopper 'Bunbun Chopper', conducted a user awareness survey from July 2 to July 6, 2026, on how people deal with partially damaged favorite kitchen tools (valid responses: 160).

The results revealed that while 56.9% of respondents expressed a desire to 'continue using the same item,' the most common actual response was 'enduring and continuing to use (29.4%).'

Amid rising prices and growing interest in the 'Right to Repair (※1)'—a movement gaining legal traction in Europe and the U.S.—the company promotes a lifestyle that is kind to both household budgets and the environment by offering a system to purchase replacement parts for its main products individually, enabling repair and long-term use instead of disposal.

(※1) Right to Repair: The concept that consumers should be able to repair their purchased products themselves to extend their lifespan.

Reference: IDEAS FOR GOOD “What is the Right to Repair” https://ideasforgood.jp/glossary/right-to-repair/

Survey Results (X platform, 160 responses)

Background and Challenges: Users Want to Keep Their Favorite Tools, But Don’t Know How to Repair Them

In recent years, as daily goods become more expensive, sustainable awareness—valuing and using a single item for a long time—has been spreading.

In this survey on how users handle partially damaged kitchen tools (e.g., lids, blades), 56.9% combined responses of 'enduring and continuing to use (29.4%)' and 'buying only the part to repair (27.5%)' indicated a desire to keep using the item.

In contrast, those who chose 'buy a new one (26.3%)' or 'discard or stop using (16.9%)' totaled 43.2%, revealing that over half of users are reluctant to easily part with tools they are attached to.

However, the most selected action among those wishing to continue using their tools was not repair, but 'enduring and continuing to use (29.4%)'.

This stems from a lack of awareness: many users are unaware that they can replace only the damaged part and repair the item themselves.

In a separate survey by the company, 84.3% of respondents (102 valid responses) said they 'did not know' that kitchen tool parts could be replaced individually, suggesting a pattern where users either endure inconvenience or reluctantly replace the entire product due to lack of repair knowledge.

How Users Handle Partially Damaged Kitchen Tools

Response

Percentage

Endure and continue using

29.4%

Buy only the part to repair

27.5%

Buy a new one

26.3%

Discard or stop using

16.9%

※ Valid responses: 160; Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

Solution: Reviving Favorite Tools Through 'Part Replacement'

K&A Co., Ltd. offers a system for its flagship product, the 'Bunbun Chopper' (over 1.5 million units sold as of October 2024), allowing users to easily purchase and replace individual parts such as lids, blades, and containers.

By replacing only the damaged components, users avoid having to replace the entire product, minimizing financial burden.

It also enables users to continue enjoying familiar tools without discarding functional parts—an option aligned with the values of today’s sustainable era.

【Comment from Yuichi Mune, Representative Director, K&A Co., Ltd.】

“We have long received numerous inquiries from customers asking, 'Do you have replacement blades?' or 'Can I buy just the lid?'

This shows how many users wish to cherish and continue using our products, which brings us joy and a deep sense of responsibility.

Responding to each of these customer voices, we established the current system of purchasing parts individually.

The fact that the most common response in this survey was 'endure and continue using' perfectly reflects the struggles of our customers we’ve been supporting.

We will continue to spread awareness about the eco-friendly and thoughtful choice of repairing and continuing to use products by replacing parts, moving beyond the disposable norm of replacing items as soon as they break.”

Survey Overview

・Survey Name: Survey on How Users Handle Kitchen Tools When Only a Part Breaks

・Method: Online survey on X (formerly Twitter), including official account posts and promoted content (single-response)

・Period: July 2–6, 2026

・Valid Responses: 160

・Target: X users who responded to the survey

・Question: When your favorite kitchen tool breaks—only a part like the lid or blade—what do you usually do?

・Response Breakdown:

Endure and continue using: 29.4%

Buy only the part to repair: 27.5%

Buy a new one: 26.3%

Discard or stop using: 16.9%

※ This is a single-question online survey and does not represent a statistically representative population.

Overview of Flagship Product 'Bunbun Chopper' and Replacement Parts

Product Name: Bunbun Chopper (Winner of 'Mothers Selection Grand Prize 2024')

Features: A manual chopper that requires no electricity—just pull the cord a few times to mince vegetables in seconds.

Available Parts: Lids, blades, containers, and other dedicated parts available for individual purchase

Parts Purchase Site: https://icokka2.com/collections/bbc_parts

Brand Website: https://k-and-a.jp

Company Overview

Company Name: K&A Co., Ltd.

Location: Yahata-Nishi Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Representative: Representative Director Yuichi Mune

Business: Import and sale of Bunbun Chopper and other daily goods

URL: https://k-and-a.jp

Media Contact

K&A Co., Ltd.

Public Relations: Yuichi Mune

TEL: 093-863-2098

Email: [email protected]

Press Releases from K&A Co., Ltd.

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/151118