The Interconnection of Sustainability and Collaborative Consumption - A case study of clothing libraries

Abstract: Collaborative consumption is a recently emerged consumption pattern based on the practice of sharing, swapping, lending, bartering and other similar modes of exchange, practiced instead of the conventional way of buying products and services. The unique character of this consumption practice suggests a shift in the idea of private ownership, where accessing products becomes more important than owning them. The scope of this thesis examines the factors influencing the emergence of these initiatives in relation to sustainability and attempts to recognize the possible changes occurring towards the perception of private ownership. For this purpose a qualitative case study approach examines the concept of clothing libraries in five cities across Sweden.