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Tuesday 3 October 2017

The Sharing Economy @ BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth

This blog has looked at 'the sharing economy' in many of its facets:
Futures Forum: A 'defining moment' for the gig/sharing economy as Uber faces a ban in London
Futures Forum: The sharing economy >>> Upstarts disrupting communities
Futures Forum: Ride-sharing with BlaBlaCar
Futures Forum: The gig economy is 'exciting' and has 'huge potential'... or maybe not...
Futures Forum: 'Independent workers' and the 'gig economy'
Futures Forum: Airbnb and irresponsible tourism

Radio 4 took us to these realms earlier today:

Dare to Share


The ability to share underused resources like holiday homes and car journeys through online sites has disrupted many sectors of the economy. Many people now travel using 'Airbnb' or 'Uber' and being able to deal directly with the owner of the property or the driver of the car has opened up additional revenue streams for some and cheaper travel options for us all. As many more industries are about to be 'disrupted' by sharing technology Tom Heap discovers how the sharing economy might also be good for the planet.
New apps like Olio and Fat Llama or the Library of Things are designed to allow people to share everything from leftover food to lawnmowers. In a world where space is at a premium and less people will own their own home many of us may no longer want to store so much 'stuff'. The solution is to borrow what we need when we need it and many statistics suggest we have already reached a point of 'peak stuff'. Buying less manufactured goods may be bad for the economy but it could be good news for the planet. Tom finds out just how far the sharing economy can provide for his needs and asks if this shift in how and what we consume can really save energy and emissions.

Related Links


BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, Dare to Share
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