What Is the Sharing Economy and What Are Its Environmental Impacts?

30 Haziran 2025

As traditional consumption patterns continue to put increasing pressure on the environment, new economic models are emerging to offer sustainable alternatives. One of the most impactful of these models is the sharing economy. But what exactly is the sharing economy? In which areas is it applied, and more importantly, what are its environmental impacts?

What Is the Sharing Economy?

The sharing economy is an alternative economic system based on the time-limited sharing of goods, services, or resources among individuals. Instead of ownership, the model prioritizes access. Rather than purchasing a product, people choose to access and use it temporarily. This not only reduces individual expenses but also optimizes resource use.

The main goal of the sharing economy is to reduce the need for new production by putting idle resources back into circulation. It applies to various sectors: transportation, housing, tools, office space, food, clothing, knowledge, and even time.

Why the Sharing Economy?

Today, people seek more than just financial gain—they also care about environmental awareness and social impact. The sharing economy is not just economically beneficial, but also ecologically and socially valuable. In this way, it strongly supports the goal of a sustainable lifestyle.

Environmental Impacts of the Sharing Economy

1. Resource Conservation

Modern production processes consume large amounts of natural resources. However, when existing products are shared and reused, this reduces the need for new production and helps preserve finite resources.

Sharing one item among multiple users saves energy, raw materials, and emissions that would result from producing multiple units.

2. Waste Reduction

Sharing and reusing products extends their lifespan and keeps them out of landfills. This leads to significant waste reduction, especially in urban areas. Fewer discarded goods mean less environmental pollution and a lower burden on landfills.

3. Lower Carbon Emissions

Each new product manufactured contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Sharing models reduce this by lowering demand for new production. In addition, shared transportation and collective use of resources help cut down carbon footprints.

4. Cultural Shift from Ownership to Access

The sharing economy promotes a cultural transformation. It encourages people to focus less on owning things and more on accessing them when needed. This shift challenges overconsumption and helps build a society that is environmentally conscious and community-driven.

The Sharing Economy in Türkiye

In Türkiye, environmental awareness is growing, especially among younger generations. As a result, the sharing economy is being embraced more widely. From co-working spaces to tool-sharing cooperatives, this model is finding practical application in both urban and rural areas.

Biotrend Enerji’s Perspective

At Biotrend Enerji, we not only produce eco-friendly renewable energy but also promote sustainable living practices. The sharing economy aligns with our commitment to circular economy principles, helping reduce environmental pressure and increase societal resilience.

We believe that less consumption and more sharing is the path to a cleaner, livable future.

Sharing Protects the Future

The sharing economy is more than just a financial model—it is a lifestyle philosophy. It contributes directly to resource conservation, waste reduction, and carbon emission control. By choosing to share, we reduce environmental harm and take an active role in creating a sustainable future.