Roo Rogers, co-founder of OZOcar and President of RedScout Ventures, continues to look for innovative business models that help us consume in smarter and more efficient ways.  His book, What's Mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption, has just been published by Harper Collins.  

What is collaborative consumption?

Collaborative consumption describes a growing movement made up of people who are choosing to swap, barter, rent, and lend goods and services.  It’s happening on a scale never seen before because of new networking technologies.  The scale also makes it possible to make these businesses profitable.

What are some examples of collaborative consumption businesses?

Some you’ve definitely heard of – eBay, Craigslist, Netflix, and Zipcar, for example.  Others are popping up in new sectors – social lending (Zopa), car sharing (Zimride), peer-to-peer travel (AirBnB).  These days there are businesses that help you share everything from designer handbags to hand drills to parking spaces.

Why is collaborative consumption inherently an environmentally-friendly choice?

Sharing and renting leads to less consumption, less production and less waste by individuals.  Resources and goods are more efficiently and completely used.

What do you like to share?

I share taxis all the time.  I figure, if we're going in the same direction, why not?  I also use Netflix and Zipcar.  I've purchased things on eBay and I've given stuff away using Freecycle.

Are you one of those annoying eco-perfect people?

By no means.  It's a daily challenge for me to behave in earth friendly ways while surrounded by a culture of wasteful consumption.  We're accustomed to so much abundance, it's hard to remember not to take it for granted.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Frequent and far-ranging airline travel.

What’s your greatest green contribution?

Living in a high-density city, OZOcar and walking to and from work every day.