| Circle Centre clearly delivers both practical value and environmental benefits — yet the organisation has never quantified the climate impact of its Library of Things. This project invites you to estimate Circle Centre’s climate benefit and explore the methodological challenges that arise when trying to measure the environmental effects of shared consumption.
Circle Centre has collected detailed loan records over several years, providing a strong empirical foundation for the project. One possible approach is to focus on a small number of frequently borrowed product categories that represent different types of items (for example tools, textiles or outdoor equipment). By drawing on existing life‑cycle assessment literature, you can identify approximate CO₂‑equivalent emission factors for these products. You may then develop simple scenarios for how often borrowing could replace a new purchase and examine how these assumptions influence the results. Using a transparent calculation model, you estimate avoided emissions and reflect on the uncertainties involved.
Possible research questions include:
· Under what assumptions can borrowing be considered to replace new purchases, and how do different assumptions influence the estimated climate benefit?
· Which product categories offer the greatest potential for avoided CO₂ emissions?
· How can a Library of Things be organised to maximise environmental benefits while minimising so-called rebound effects?
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