BERLIN – With its steadfast pursuit of renewable energy and a recycling rate second only to Austria in the European Union, Germany has made world headlines as a green leader. And nowhere in the country are eco-friendly ideals and a frugal approach to consumption more accepted than in the capital. Here, with growing technology, culture and tourism sectors, it's ideas that move Berlin forward – not the traditional economy.
One recent idea that's been recognized for its role helping to reduce waste while saving Berliners money is the Leila Project, in the neighborhood of Prenzlauerberg. A cross between two German words – “leihen” means to borrow, and “Laden” is a shop – Leila is a self-proclaimed “library of things” that allows community members to borrow household items simply by donating ones they no longer need.
Leila’s model is the latest grassroots application of collective ownership being embraced around the world, as people sharing apartments, automobiles and even textbooks have become commonplace. But unlike Car 2 Go or Airbnb, Leila has taken the idea of sharing to a community level that doesn’t require the Internet or a membership fee.
“The most important things in life aren’t things,” states founding member Nikolai Wolfert. “You have to understand that you don’t want a power drill, you only want a hole in the wall. You have to change your mind to a more post-materialistic lifestyle.”
By lending out everyday household items, which are provided through donations, Leila has fostered an exchange that benefits its members while fighting an over-consumption lifestyle where everything is bought new. Household appliances often sit neglected for years on end; through Leila, they get traded and used among neighbors who collectively share in their utility.
“This is all possible because we live in a society where there is too much stuff,” says Leila co-founder Jacob Heiden. “Every house has too much. You need to look at what things you need daily, weekly, and things that you need for only a small amount of time.”
Wolfert initiated Leila Project two years ago after the Green Party lost in the 2011 Berlin elections. His intent was to introduce a sustainable project for social change in his community, inspired by a borrowing shop at Berlin’s Technical University. The rent for Leila’s space is almost entirely covered by donations, with almost 500 members joined – and all borrowing logged on paper, not computer databases.
“People start to find ways how they can live and consume together, and I think that’s a positive development,” says Wolfert. “It’s just one solution though. We need more sustainable and social thinking in Berlin – we have to start to build a consciousness about resources and consumption.”
Collaborative consumption may work well in gentrified districts of the German capital. But anticipating its effectiveness in the rest of the country – or in other countries overall – remains an open question. Berlin's unique social and artistic environment, mixed with a high level of political consciousness, makes it a natural leader of progressive trends. It was in Germany where the first national Green Party was formed in 1980 – and it was here in Berlin where Martin Weitzman’s 1986 book, "The Shared Economy: Conquering Stagflation," has served as a sort of manifesto for many seeking to create a more community-centered economy.
“An idea that gets more and more support now is that infinite economic growth is just not realistic because we live in a finite world,” says Heiden. “Unless we start mining asteroids in the near future we are going to run out of certain resources very soon. The idea is by sharing items together and not having to produce as many, this is actually more sustainable.”
A thorough scan of Leila’s inventory includes table grills, a chocolate fountain centerpiece, fog machines, camping equipment, a juicer, and an abundance of children's toys and puzzles. It’s easy to see why Leila’s members are so quick to borrow these and other items on occasion, rather than purchasing them. Other groups are up and running elsewhere in the city, trying to emulate the sharing spirit in different niche ways.
In the southeastern Berlin district of Neukölln, for example, a "culture lab" has become a trading ground for art supplies and fashion items. In another area, a small-scale “cupboard of things” functions under the same principles of Leila, although it requires a money donation. Deutsche Telekom has even started a social network for swapping tools and services, allowing people to do everything from borrow a sewing machine to find someone to babysit their child.
“Berlin has a lot of creative people, and from time to time they don’t have much money, so they are open to creative ways of using things or living and working without money,” explains Wolfert. “Such projects can grow very fast, and so we try to save resources from the garbage, because the people who don’t need their things bring them to the shop and we can give them away for free.”
The sharing culture is especially useful for young parents. “I bring stuff that I don’t need any more from time to time. I’ve brought books and pregnancy stuff, because I don’t intend to become pregnant any time soon,” says Inka, a mother who lives around the corner. “Today I’ve come to borrow a stroller to take my child out for an upcoming holiday.”
Asked why she chose to participate, Inka answers in simple terms: “It makes sense for me to save money, and I never have to throw things away.”
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