·
Circular Economy from a Linear Economy
The shift from a linear to a circular economy is not a just a passing trend but a necessity. For many decades, we have been living a linear lifestyle, wherein raw materials are used to create a product, and after its use, waste such as broken appliances or packaging are disposed of. Most of our…
·
Solar Power as a Service
Companies like Tesla offer solar power as a service via a subscription scheme. Renting without long-term contracts make environment-friendly energy more accessible to average homeowners.
·
Software as a Service: The WHYs and the WHOs
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud-based software application that users access via the internet. It is cloud-based and users no longer have to purchase expensive software nor download them to their desktop, laptop, or computer network after a costly one-time purchase. The software application could be anything from a gaming software to a…
·
Light as a Service in the World’s Greenest Building
Many companies have adopted the “product as a service” business model because of climate change. Aside from being more environment-friendly, these offerings, such as light as a service, reduce CO2 emission, pollution and lower the cost of lighting.
·
Heating as a Service: Japan ahead of its time
To rent or lease heaters is now a thing, especially in Japan where heating as a service has become commonplace. The business of renting out heaters was introduced by a Japanese company in 2001. Since then, the company has continued the approach of selling a service, aside from just selling heating appliances. This business practice…
·
IKEA offers Furniture as a Service
IKEA plans to roll out a Product-as-a-Service business model wherein clients can rent Furniture as a Service instead of purchasing fixtures. It’s a bid that appeals to a younger clientele and everyone who is concerned about the cost of ownership when furnishing a home or office. It is also a move towards a circular economy…
·
Canoo: Build for Mobility as a Service
Upon launching the website it is clear that Canoo doesn’t want to be another electric vehicle startup. The first thing you’ll see is the payoff “Your electric vehicle membership”. Their goal isn’t to sell you an electric car but a quick, easy and affordable means of personal mobility. Their service and product are all designed…
·
Circos launches subscriptions for children’s and maternity clothing
Young children grow out of clothing fast and good clothing doesn’t come cheap. Furthermore, the short lifespan of the clothing is also a major environmental burden. For the company Circos these where important motivations to launch its subscription service. The startup has launched its service in the Netherlands and Denmark this month to offer a…
·
Report on “Everything-as-a-Service: The Unconference”
On the eleventh of November, a diverse group of experts from a variety of fields attended “Everything-as-a-Service: The Unconference”. The event was organized by Firmhouse in collaboration with Emerce and held in the iconic “Groothandelsgebouw” in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Because of the free-flowing “unconference“-format and the broadly defined theme of the event, the scope of…
·
Solution ‘as a Service’?
Buying a product has been the default way we’ve “consumed” products in modern industrialized nations. However, more and more companies and consumers are “leasing” products instead of buying them. This method of consumption could be a model for a better, cleaner and more circular economy. Some call this model “Product-as-a-Service” and it is the topic…