Have you ever had an experience where you buy an item and only use it once? I did. I remember I bought this specific sauce from Save On Foods just because I wanted to recreate an authentic Thai dish- Pad Krapow Gai; after my cravings were satisfied, I never used that sauce again, and then it expired, so I had to throw it out.
This kind of activity has created lots of waste. But, in Saskatoon, a sustainability living store called “” has found a way to tackle such a problem: having a “Library of Things.” This new business model works exactly like a library, but instead of books, are things!
The “Library of Things” is a volunteer-led initiative where the store “encourages sustainable living” by reducing waste generated by those “one-time” use item but also help save money for people. How the “Library of Things” works is that people visiting the store can borrow or reserve the items they want. According to the owner, there is stuff ranging from kitchen appliances such as bread makers to spices such as ginger powder that one might buy for one-time use only. All this stuff gathered in the store is also donated by the Saskatoon residents, which further builds a community.
In the earlier classes, we discussed ways 20 business model innovations for sustainability, and one of the categories is diverse impact. For example, the “Library of Things” targeted the shared resource aspect of it. With this, people do not have to own a specific product and hence will decrease the waste generated. Another element is that for people who are unsure whether they want a particular item, these borrowable products can serve as a try-out, so it also helps decrease the risk and uncertainty of owning a product. Other examples of shared resources are AirBnB or Evo Cars.
Everything has a risk. One risk is people sabotaging shared resources. For example, in some cases, Airbnb owners found out their houses were trashed and some items were stolen. To tackle those issues, the shop owners should notify the borrower about specific use rules or have them put in a deposit.
Besides the risks, I would love to see if Vancouver shops will be willing to tap into this business model soon as this could change consumer behavior of buying things whenever to borrow when needed.
References:
- https://globalnews.ca/news/9462569/saskatoon-sustainable-living-library-of-things/
- https://globalnews.ca/video/9451561/cavan-monaghan-library-of-things-lending-more-than-just-books-to-residents
- https://www.slideshare.net/padawan3001/20-business-model-innovations-for-sustainability
I love lending libraries and the concept of having a shared space for tools and utensils. In individualistic societies, the primitive nature of “resource hoarding” seems to prevail, leading to overconsumption (and wayyy too many tools and appliances left lying around in storage). Creating a shared hub for individuals to borrow or lend tools allows for community to foster, trust to build, and the mitigation of waste. Your post takes this a step further and shines light on lending things like spices and herbs as well. I feel as though the idea of “knocking on your neighbour’s door to borrow a cup of flour” is so foreign and almost feared – making the “Library of Things” such a refreshing reality. Thanks for sharing, Gigi!
I love this article and the Library of Things is such a cool idea. How is this model not implemented everywhere already? I really wish we have something like this in where I came from. I have a similar experience to you like buying an item and only used it once. For me, it’s similar to cooking for one person. I find it wasteful because sometimes I can’t portion it right and would have left overs of the cooked meal and ingredients. Those things will either be thrown away or left to get expired. I feel like if the Library of Things were to be established in convenient places then it could be very helpful for those in need.
Your article was both informative and engaging! As an exchange student, I wish there was a such thing as “the library of things” because it would be very helpful if I do not have to buy every single items when I use them for only 8 months and probably end up throwing them away or donating. As you mentioned, there are numerous benefits of this particular business model, however, I believe monetizing this type of shared resource business is the other issue that we have to overcome on top of the risk of sabotage.
Thank you for your blog!
I found your thoughts on Saskatoon’s Library of Things initiative was very interesting! It’s nice to see a store focused on sustainability taking on the task of decreasing trash created by single-use items. Borrowing rather than owning is a powerful method to reduce waste, save money, and develop a community. It’s encouraging to see companies like these develop sustainable business methods that benefit the environment and society. I hope that additional cities will follow suit in the future!