Page 9 - U4SSC Case study: Re-use of consumer goods and tools loaning, June 2020

In 2014, the Toronto Tool Library and Sharing Depot was awarded the Live Green Toronto Award as
the ‘Greenest Group’.

An additional unforeseen benefit has been the significant media coverage garnered since launching
the programme. Before opening the doors of the first location, the media found out about the project
and newspapers and radio shows began spreading the word about the programme. Over the years,
it had over 100 media spots promoting the programme and encouraging other groups around the
world to launch their own libraries. There are now well over a hundred libraries similar to Toronto Tool
Library and Sharing Depot in the world and in 2017, it hosted a Lending Library Symposium to share
best practices with other groups and groups aspiring to make a similar impact.

The social impact includes people’s satisfaction and happiness about the programme, which contributes
to community spirit and brings people together and allows for the exchange of knowledge and the
building of skills.

The economic impact includes an increased disposable income for inhabitants due to reduced
expenditures for tools. Other benefits are the avoidance of unnecessary consumption and production
due to infrequently used items, and the standardization of tool-related expenditures through a fixed
and fair price that is the same for all members who can afford it. It also enables increased disposable
income to be diverted to uses that are better for the City’s inhabitants.

The environmental impact includes reduced consumption and related production and packaging, which
leads to decreased GHG (Green House Gas) emissions; it also reduces waste in the city through sharing
and repairing goods.

References

• http:// www .fao .org/ save -food/ resources/ keyfindings/ en/
• Main website of the initiative at https:// torontotoollibrary .com

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