Sharing/Collaborative Use

HappyPorch was pleased to have recently put our software engineering and design skills to use in service of supporting a project that is exploring the possibilities at the intersection of mutual credit systems and the circular economy. 

In a vibrant conversation, HappyPorch Radio spoke with Lucy Wishart, getting an academic perspective on the circular economy that was ripe with insights, including consumption work, a powerfully simple encapsulation of the key way rental companies benefit consumers. And how to best leverage that. 

While the circular economy is typically thought of in terms of companies optimising operationally, finding ways to reuse and further monetise materials, thus accruing ecological and financial benefits - we are finding it can have a clear, tangible impact on society as well. It’s all interconnected. We explore this intersection with Circular Communities Scotland CEO Michael Cook. 

Throughout season five of our podcast, we've been talking about the Circular Economy and its intersection with all things digital and software. The last couple of years have been strange and difficult for many of us, and it was inspiring to hear how so many people are dedicating their lives and their businesses to building a better world.

The fashion industry is responsible for more carbon emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined. On the production side, garment manufacturing is extremely water intensive, and when it comes to waste, the problems are even worse: So-called ‘fast fashion’ and luxury brands alike burn millions of unused items every year, creating thousands of tonnes of toxic fumes. Mountains of unused garments also end up in landfill, which leads to a slew of environmental problems.

The technology industry has the unique capacity to not only reduce its own resource consumption, but to help others do so as well. From digital solutions to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), tech can be embedded into a vast range of products and sectors to boost sustainability by enabling more circular practices

For the second podcast in our podcast series exploring the role of tech in driving forward the circular economy, we chatted to Lieke van Kerkhoven. Lieke is co-founder of Floow2, a dynamic asset-sharing marketplace built around the principles of circularity.

The circular economy holds vast potential for businesses, helping them to add value, save money, connect with customers and stand out from the competition.