In our Circular Business Models series, we delve into the role of various business models in accelerating a circular economy. Previously we discussed Resource Recovery and the value retained through resource recovery processes, such as those demonstrated by our Food Waste Programs. In this article, we focus on Sharing Platforms, and their role in stimulating collaboration among users to acquire greater productivity and value from a product, reduce waste and costs associated throughout the lifecycle, and improve access to local, affordable, and sustainable consumption.
In a linear economy, if we needed a product, we would purchase it, use it a few times, and then throw it away. In a circular economy, we have the concept of a sharing model. A sharing model is a very simple idea that refers to sharing a product among multiple users instead of many people owning these items themselves.
In fact, sharing platforms are not a new concept; they have been part of our daily lives for decades. From public libraries and movie rentals to community centre resources and car co-ops, many familiar systems already embody the principles of shared access and collective benefit. While we may not have realized it, these examples demonstrate how sharing has long contributed to a more efficient and circular use of resources.
Building on these familiar practices, the sharing model expands this idea into modern digital platforms and community initiatives. It fosters collaboration among groups, extends the value of products, and, in turn, reduces waste and cost for those involved. This approach opens opportunities for greater reach, more products in circulation, and increased benefits for those involved.
To maintain a successful sharing platform, there needs to be trust among individuals and organizations. Key enablers include transparent user policies, secure payment and return systems, user review, consistent quality assurance, and moderation, all of which ensure accountability, reliability, and a positive user experience essential for scaling sharing platforms sustainably.
To encourage the use of sharing platforms within an organization or amongst many organizations, it is helpful to consider the following questions:
When integrating sharing models into procurement practices, organizations can:
Incorporating these practices may appear challenging at first, but with these tips and a small change in perspective, it is a meaningful step toward circularity and a more sustainable future.
There are many examples of well-known platforms or brands, such as Airbnb, Uber, Tool libraries, Libraries, Clothing rentals, and more! Some examples include:
Commuting
Libraries
Housing / Coworking Space
These platforms help reduce the need for individual ownership and purchases that might otherwise lead to waste, while fostering community connection, resource efficiency, and knowledge-sharing.
Our Share, Reuse, Repair Hub (SRRH) is a virtual community-based tool that serves as a central space connecting residents to local businesses, organizations, and events across Canada with sharing, reuse, and repair resources. The Hub features many examples of the sharing economy, such as community tool libraries, lenderies, rental businesses, and apps that promote collaboration within the community. SRRH serves as a knowledge base and network for advancing sharing-based business models. The tool is currently available in York, Peel, and Durham regions within Ontario, and CIC is currently undergoing strategic planning to grow the tool and its features.
Among Canada’s growing network of sharing platforms, LEND-IT.CA offers a practical example of how digital tools can bring circular principles to life at the community level.
For most of us, our homes are full of things we rarely use; tools gathering dust, décor packed away after one event, or outdoor gear that only sees the light of day a few times a year. Yet when we need something new, our instinct is generally to click “buy now.” The truth is, most of these items already exist within our communities, we just need to know where to find them.
LEND-IT.CA is an online platform that connects Canadians with trusted individuals and local rental businesses to lend and borrow items in their own communities. By helping people share what already exists, we’re extending the life of products, reducing waste, and keeping resources circulating.
Every transaction on LEND-IT.CA represents an act of circularity. A ladder that helps one person today might help ten more this year. A wedding arch might appear at a dozen celebrations. Each rental displaces a new purchase, conserves materials, and strengthens local connections.
The platform is free to join. Users can sign up as a Borrower to browse and book the growing selection of local items or as a Lender to post their own. It’s an easy way to earn from things around the house while helping neighbours access what they need; a simple exchange that benefits both people and planet.
Trust and safety are central to how LEND-IT.CA operates. Each user is verified by email, and all bookings, messaging, and payments take place within the platform to maintain transparency. Before and after photos document item conditions, while security deposits system and visible ratings provide additional reassurance, therefore, create a sense of accountability and reliability for both lenders and borrowers.
Among the platform’s key is the “Show Interest” function. If someone searches for an item that isn’t yet listed, they can flag their interest, prompting the LEND-IT.CA team to reach out to nearby users to see if that item exists within the community. This helps fill local gaps and reminds people of the value hidden in what they already own. It’s a grassroots approach to building a more sustainable network of sharing.
By creating a free account, users join a growing community of Canadians finding practical ways to reduce waste and make better use of what already exists. Sometimes, sustainability is as simple as lending what you already have.
Transitioning toward a circular economy requires more than individual participation; it depends on systemic support that enables collaboration at every level. Businesses and municipalities play a pivotal role in building this foundation, through policies that foster shared access and innovation, technologies and platforms that connect people and resources, and partnerships that scale circular initiatives across sectors. By working together to strengthen these systems, we can make sharing not an alternative, but an integral part of how our communities operate and thrive.
In our Circular Business Models series, we delve into the role of various business models in accelerating a circular economy. Read the articles below:
Accelerating Canada’s Transition to a Circular and Low Carbon Economy. Circular Business Models: Circular Supplies. – For businesses to understand the benefits and importance of a Circular Supply business model.
From Waste to Worth: The Role of Product Life Extension in Mitigating Embodied Emissions – For businesses and municipalities to understand the benefits and linkage of product life extension and circular procurement in minimizing embodied emissions.
The Power of Resource Recovery in Advancing Circular Economies
Stay tuned for the upcoming articles through our website, social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram & Twitter), or email list!
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations and we humbly extend our respect to Indigenous individuals, communities and Elders, past and present, as the traditional custodians of this land.
Circular Innovation Council is a registered charity.
Charity Registration Number: 119112118 RR 0001
