I have a feeling that someday we’ll look back on the 20th century and wonder why we ever owned so much stuff…
Time Magazine created “10 Ideas That Will Change The World” – its writers’ best shots for tackling our worst problems, from war and disease, to unemployment and deficits – and cited “Don’t Own. Share.” as an absolutely fundamental mechanism for societal transformation.
And sure enough, it’s the (most seemingly impressionable audience to savvy marketers) young who have been leading the way towards collaborative consumption: the borrowing, renting, lending and sharing, rather than buying, of goods. Successful co-operatives, like Modo, have further proved that, for example, “carsharing is easier, less expensive, and better for our environment than owning a car.”
I can’t help but think this model is the way of the future. So what else would could work? A tool library, perhaps?
The Vancouver Tool Library is exactly as it sounds: a community based co-op where members can seek expertise, borrow tools, share project ideas, and build a social network of like-minded people, all at various points of the “DIY” spectrum. You don’t need to own every tool in the box to be the next Tim Taylor (or perhaps more desirably, his sidekick, Al Borland), so if you want to lighten your footprint, deepen your pockets, or save on valuable closet space, this may be the place for you.
But the real benefit of this kind of collaborative consumption turns out to be that of relationship building. In an era when families are scattered and we may not know the people down the street, sharing things — even with strangers we’ve just met online — allows us to make meaningful connections.
Peer-pressure to own today’s best and brightest gadgets can lead to self-doubt, unhappiness, and disappointment. Meanwhile, peer-to-peer sharing involves a re-emergence of community, compassion, confidence, and fulfillment.
So what kind of co-op would you like to see or like to start? The boyfriend already has his idea, but I promised not to share. Pot, kettle, black…?
Hi Sara,
I really like this post and the ideas that you’ve brought up! Any long-term view of communities will have to factor in the notion of co-ops, co-creation and shared ownership rather than individual ownership. A related idea that I’ve been looking into is swapping goods and services rather than paying or getting paid – almost a throw-back to the bartering days, and possibly a way to create a very local economy. Over the past few months I organised a Crop Swap at the shop and already have started thinking of other types of swaps!
Take care and happy blogging,
Vidya
Hi Vidya, Thank you so much for reading and for your greatly insightful views. You’re absolutely right – swapping to reduce and reuse what we consume and provide are undoubtedly the keys to a balanced economy and planet. I think the Crop Swap is incredible idea and I can’t wait to see hear how far it goes – you can bet next time I’m in England, I’ll be there!