Sharing Behaviour
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Internationella miljöinstitutet |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 710 764 |
| Project duration | November 2018 - August 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The project ‘Sharing Behaviour’ aimed to increase the understanding of behavioural and contextual factors affecting decision-making processes of (potential) users of sharing economy initiatives. The project focused on car sharing services (CSS) and collaborative fashion consumption (CFC) as case studies. It involved collaborations between research groups in Sweden and Spain. Due to the pandemic, policy experiments focused on CSS.
Expected results and effects
- Various unsustainable consumption behaviours (e.g. single-occupancy vehicle, ´fast fashion´) were identified. - CSS and CFC provide opportunities to address these behaviours, however, multiple factors hinder or encourage their adoption (e.g. convenience, environmental performance, price). - Policy experiments with social norms showed limited but positive impacts on the consumer’s willingness to adopt CSS. - The environmental effectiveness of CSS and its complementarities with other mobility options are important mediators.
Planned approach and implementation
The project used behavioural economics and policy analysis as frameworks for its design and implementation. The following activities were carried out: - Identify case studies and behaviours to be changed. - Determine factors that affect consumer behaviours. - Conduct policy experiments to analyse consumer’s willingness to adopt sharing behaviour. - Develop policy recommendations. Dissemination activities were supported by two events (onsite and online), scientific publications and project reports publicly available. A special issue in Energy Policy was also organised.