Topic 3 Examples

Applying the different principles of CC to some industries can help to understand the rationale of CC in a more concrete way:

1. Application to the mobility sector: carsharing-carpooling

Actors

• Provider: car owner willing to share his/her car (carsharing) or a car ride with his/her car (carpooling)
• Consumer: individual looking for a car ride
• Digital platform: carsharing has always existed but it has experienced exponential growth with digital platforms connecting providers and consumers

Economic benefits

The provider gets a compensation from the individual he/she shares his/her car with, contributing to the initial price of the car and its maintenance costs (and petrol in the case of carpooling).

The consumer gets the ride he/she needs without having to pay for a car

Convenience

The consumer does not have to look and pay for a parking spot, to be responsible for the maintenance of the car, to pay for an insurance and petrol, etc.

Environmental

Carpooling allows for a reduction of CO2 emissions and traffic congestion by taking the empty seats that would be moving down the road anyway to put them to use. Carsharing allows for instance for a decrease in the cars needed to be produced and then for a maximisation of the use of cars.

Social

Carpooling creates social connections as the car owner shares a ride with another person. Carsharing allows for individuals who cannot afford a car to experience car riding.

Examples

• GoMore: peer-to-peer carsharing https://gomore.dk
• ShareNow: free-floating carsharing https://www.share-now.com
• BlaBlaCar: carpooling https://www.blablacar.fr

2. Application to the food industry

Actors

• Provider: owner of food surplus
• Consumer: individual or organisation looking for food
• Digital platform: facilitate the matching of food supply (from surplus) with food demand

Economic benefits

The provider gets rid of the food surplus without any cost, and even sometimes for a small compensation.

The consumer gets fresh food for a lower price.

Convenience

The provider does not need to take care of throwing away food waste.

The consumer has a surprise with every day different food to collect.

Environmental

Contribution to the fight against food waste.

Social

Individuals and local stores and restaurants connect through sharing the food surplus.

Examples

• Instock: restaurant (consumer) offering a menu cooked with food surplus from supermarkets (providers) https://www.instock.nl
• Too Good To Go: platform connecting consumers with restaurants and stores who have food surplus (providers) to be redistributed https://toogoodtogo.com/

3. Application to the accommodation industry

Actors

• Provider: owner of an empty accommodation (from a room to a whole villa)
• Consumer: individual looking for an accommodation
• Digital platform: accommodations are published on the platform by providers for consumers to connect with them if interested

Economic benefits

The provider gets a compensation from sharing its accommodation which would otherwise be empty (and not profitable)

The consumer benefits from an accommodation at a lower cost.

Convenience

The provider can, through the platform, reach easily a wide public and connect and communicate with interested consumers.

The consumer gets to live in a local accommodation for the time needed, experiencing life like a local rather than a tourist.

Environmental

Maximisation of the use of spare rooms and accommodations.

Social

Consumers (often tourists) and local inhabitants (providers) can connect, exchange and discover each other’s culture, eventually building friendships. Consumers discover local lifestyle and culture from the inside.

Examples

• Airbnb: peer-to-peer accommodation platform https://www.airbnb.com
• Couchsurfing: community of travellers based on hospitality exchange service https://www.couchsurfing.com
• Workaway: platform connecting individuals arranging a homestay (lodging and food) provided by the provider in exchange for an agreed amount of time which the consumer will have to dedicate in contributing to the provider’s work https://www.workaway.info