The term collaborative economy is particularly at home in the areas of digital marketplaces, digital society, sustainability and Environment 4.0. The collaborative economy describes an economic model in which people share, exchange or utilise goods and services directly with each other - often mediated via digital platforms.
Instead of owning everything or buying everything new, the collaborative economy aims to make better use of existing resources. A well-known example of this is car sharing: platforms such as car-sharing services allow people to use a car only when they really need it. This reduces costs and conserves resources.
The collaborative economy is becoming increasingly popular because it is not only cheaper, but also helps to reduce the impact on the environment. It also strengthens the sense of community because people work together and benefit from each other. Digital marketplaces and apps make it easy to find suitable offers or users - be it when borrowing tools, sharing a flat via platforms such as Airbnb or working together on projects.
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