BALANCE_FEBRUARY_2020 - 24

WORK / LIFE
IT'S GOOD
TO SHARE

SOURCES Forbes, Allwork, Wrap, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

year. Working to conquer this are a number of
apps and online platforms that allow fashion
lovers to regularly rotate what's in their closet
through lending and renting.
By Rotation, the UK's first peer-to-peer fashion
rental app, allows users to rent mid to high-end
luxury clothes across the country. Describing the
concept behind the app, founder Eshita KabraDavies explains that the platform allows users
to "Rotate your wardrobe at your fingertips: do
good for the planet, your wardrobe and wallet at
the same time."
Connecting fashion-conscious individuals and
encouraging them to lend the items that they
rarely use, and borrow items that are missing
from their current wardrobe, By Rotation is
reducing the need for fast fashion - in turn
cutting down on waste and production.
Similarly, The Endless Wardrobe allows users
to browse a collection of designer dresses to
rent across a four to 16-day period, all for a
small, one-off payment. And for those who like
to indulge, Front Row offers users short-term
rentals of the latest designer clothes, bags,
accessories and shoes.
FEEDING THE 5,000
And so from our bedroom closets to our kitchen
cupboards. The time has come for us to even
share the food straight from our own fridges.
Across the planet, we currently waste roughly
one-third of the food produced for human
consumption every year, equal to approximately
1.3 billion tonnes. Working to tackle the UK's
portion of the problem is the waste reduction app
Olio. By connecting neighbours with each other
as well as local businesses, the app encourages
users to share food rather than throw it away.
The items shared could be food nearing its
sell-by date or ingredients that have been overpurchased - or even non-food household items
such as books, toys, utensils and more.
According to Olio co-founder Tessa Clarke, half
of all food waste takes place in the home. "If food
waste were a country," she says, "it would be the
third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions
after the USA and China."
By using the Olio app and sharing unwanted
food, not only are we loving our fellow
neighbour, but also the planet. So if you haven't
already, download the app and get sharing!

BY SHARING
UNWANTED FOOD,
WE ARE LOVING OUR
FELLOW NEIGHBOUR

AS AND WHEN
Sharing can apply to
anything - take pets,
for example. As we all
know, the benefits of
spending time with a furry friend are numerous.
So for those who are desperate for a de-stressing
cuddle with a pooch while being restricted by the
hours they work or a landlord who won't let them
keep an animal, there are a plethora of canineborrowing apps and websites. These include the
appropriately named BorrowMyDoggy, Rover
and Share Your Pet.
How about travel? Well, if you're a die-hard
public transport user but find yourself in need
of a car from time to time, look no further

than Zipcar and
hiyacar. Allowing
you to rent a car
at short notice,
these last-minute
services provide us with the freedom that we
may not otherwise have.
The availability of these services also helps to
reduce the number of cars on our roads and the
impact on the planet, all by providing customers
with the opportunity to only use the vehicles
when they truly need them.
In a time in which caring for the planet is
absolutely vital, the sharing economy is allowing
us to satisfy our wants and needs at a reduced
detriment to the world around us.

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