Collaborative Consumption.

So I know I wrote about this like last week or something...about sharing, but I wanted to write some more after I actually listened to the Ted talk  by Rachel Botsman.  I loved what she had to say and wanted to share it with those who don't have the time to watch the talk.

Anyhow, she says that we're wired to share and she shows how websites like Zipcar and Swap are changing the rules of human behavior.  She says we are in the process of reinventing now just what we consume but how we consume

Through her talk I was introduced to all sorts of new websites such as Landshare (brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food and connects those who have land with those who need land for cultivating food), Swap.com, and Paperbackswap.com, and Rentatoy.com, and Babyplays.com.  This whole idea of swap trading is new to me and truly brilliant.  She compares it to an online dating service for formerly unwanted media - match what person has with what person wants.   

However, in order for this swapping business and this collaborative behavior to actually work - we must trust each other - the trust mechanics are inherit and necessary within this system.  And social networks and technologies are enabling trust between strangers.  They are taking us back to the systems of bartering, trading, swapping, sharing, but these systems are being reinvented into a dynamic and appealing form. 

She goes on to say that we are shifting away from hyper consumption to collaborative consumption considering the recession has shocked consumer behaviors and taking advantage of redistribution markets - where we take a used and pre-owned item, and move it from where its not needed to somewhere it is needed.  The new motto is then - reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and redistribute.   This system stretches the lifestyle of a product and ultimately reduces waste.   

She goes on to say that we are entering into a time "when access is better than ownership" - we don't necessarily WANT stuff, but we want the needs or experiences it fulfills.  She finishes the talk by saying, "I am on a mission to make sharing cool - sharing can teach us when enough really is enough."  and I loved that because it is so true isn't it?  Sharing can teach us when enough really is enough...sharing reminds us of the unnecessary need to OWN everything, especially if someone else we know already has it and is nice enough to grant us access to said item.