Around the world, people are using network technologies to do more with less, by renting, lending, swapping, bartering, gifting and sharing products on a scale never before possible.
Collaborative Consumption is transforming business, consumerism and the way we live for a more fulfilling and sustainable quality of life.
The term describes the shift in consumer values from ownership to access. Excellent examples to check out are Airbnb (now available in South Africa!), TaskRabbit and Zipcar.
To use an everyday instance: You need to hand up a painting so you buy a drill - but what you actually need is just the hole in the wall for the hook. You have had to spend money on an item that for the most part will sit idly, taking up space, for an occasional solution. Now, with ideas like toolshed, you could start a neighborhood tool share solution - shared products, lowers costs yet allows the same solution.
The Sett is a perfect example of a collaborative consumption solution:
Why rent your own office space, with all the set up costs, equipment, admin and staff when you could simply share a space with like minded people?
Instead of a world where mass consumerism is upheld, we now have a new economic model.
Sharing is Caring
- Rachel Botsman co-authored What’s Mine Is Yours which details this movement.
- TIME wrote that it is one of the “10 Ideas That Will Change the World”
- And more and more people are absorbing these principles into their daily life choices.
When was the last time you bought a DVD? Or even rented one? Or do you rather download it directly from your DSTV or computer?
Space and time are commodities worth trading and having less is becoming worth more…
For more information check out the Collaborative Consumption website, and blog to watch these TED videos.
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