Mapping opportunities for a neighborhood-scale sharing economy: A geospatial methodological framework focused on household products

Journal article, 2025

The sharing economy (SE) could promote environmental sustainability, though its outcomes often depend on the SE's ability to reduce product consumption and transportation impacts. In this study, we develop a methodological framework to identify where the implementation of sharing can contribute to sustainability by reducing both aspects. The framework involves neighborhood-level extrapolation of consumption and user attitudes, as well as spatial analyses of existing sharing initiatives. Through these steps, we can compare supply and demand of 6 sharing activities (i.e., reparation, buying and selling second-hand, loaning to and from private individuals, and renting) and 7 product groups (clothes, tools, furniture, electronics, and children-, hobby- and kitchen equipment), and evaluate the level of pedestrian accessibility and centrality in different neighborhoods. The viability of the methodological framework is demonstrated by using the case city of Gothenburg, Sweden, focusing on mediated and locally accessible sharing. Based on a non-comprehensive data sample, the results show consistent spatial patterns in product consumption; more distinct patterns regarding attitudes and the presence of initiatives; and unfulfilled sharing demands for tools, furniture, and various types of equipment. Additionally, product-based unfulfilled demands were more prevalent in the outer city neighborhoods, whereas sharing activity-based unfulfilled demands increased toward the inner city. Opportunities for sustainable sharing were identified for locations with medium-high levels of centrality. Future research implies improving the results for Gothenburg with representative data, and the development of the method to accommodate other types of sustainable sharing.