Grapevine

Car sharing and second-hand phones not as green as they seem, research shows

Not all sustainable business models have the impact they claim, Leiden researcher Levon Amatuni revealed. Car sharing and phone reuse, for example, have a smaller positive effect than previously thought. Amatuni advises people to "pay attention to actual changes in their consumption behavior rather than green perceptions or labels."

Most people in the Netherlands are convinced that their consumption patterns affect the environment. Many of them are looking for ways to reduce their footprint. Businesses, some with good intentions, tap into that concern by claiming their products and services can help customers lower emissions and use fewer materials.

However, the reality is more complicated, according to research by Leiden Ph.D. candidate Levon Amatuni. The researcher, with roots in Canada, Russia and Armenia, focused specifically on car sharing and the reuse of phones. Amatuni is driven by his own passion for sharing things and purchasing second-hand. He used his background in computer science and mathematics for his Ph.D. in Industrial Ecology to model and measure the benefits of such practices.

Highly influential rebound effects

His research shows that, on average, users of car-sharing platforms reduce their impact by only three to 18%—much less than the 51% or 37% claimed in previous research. This is caused by so-called "rebound effects," which are rarely accounted for by companies or even researchers.