Building For A Circular Economy with Emma Shaw

12 Jul

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This week meet the founder of Library Of Things, Emma Shaw.

Library of Things is a women-led social enterprise on a mission to make borrowing better than buying. Alongside her co-founders Rebecca and Sophie, Emma is building a circular economy business model to provide an affordable alternative to buying occasional-use products, helping people save money and reduce waste. Members can borrow items like drills and sewing machines from self-serve kiosks installed in local libraries, high streets and housing blocks.

The concept was first developed in 2014 when the trio was inspired by a tool-sharing movement in Berlin and Toronto. Living in a cramped houseshare in South London, they launched the first Library of Things in their local high street library. The co-founders have since gone on to secure support from Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund and and were awarded the Women in Innovation Award to develop a £1 million Contract for Circular Economy Outcomes.

Emma is a Women in Innovation Award winner. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur with an innovative idea, see how Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award could support you.

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