More sharing, more caring? Kumulativa effekter av delningstjänster: En kvalitativ studie om Leksaksbibliotekets påverkan på sina medlemmars inställning till hållbarhet

Abstract

This thesis examines the views on consumption and sustainability held by members of sharing economy concepts and how their behavior is affected, using the example of Leksaksbiblioteket, a toy library in Gothenburg, Sweden. Building on previous research, qualitative interviews were analyzed thematically and put in a greater context using the model of the three spheres of transformation. The thesis shows that membership influenced members’ views and actions in regards of consumption and sustainability directly and indirectly. As transformation in one sphere causes transformations in the others, it can be said that sharing economy concepts have an immediate effect on sustainability by reducing consumption and more efficient use of resources, but also a collateral effect by challenging established norms of consumption, patterns of behavior and economic systems.