Events, Media & Communications

Recyclebank, yerdle and PIPs Rewards Propose SXSWEco Panel on Changing Currency in the Sharing Economy

May 16, 2014 8:00 AM ET
Campaign: Events

Javier Flaim, CEO of Recyclebank®, the company that inspires and rewards smarter, everyday choices for a more sustainable future, has teamed up with Andy Ruben, co-founder of yerdle, and Wendy Gordon, founder of PIPs Rewards and The Green Guide, to propose a SXSWEco panel on the evolving nature of currency in the sharing economy entitled “Is Altruism the Next Bitcoin?” With expertise in behavior change, the sharing economy and consumer demand, these panelists promise engaging dialog and insightful takeaways; but it needs public votes to be brought to life.

Consumer demand for responsible consumption choices is on the rise. In fact, 80 percent of Americans are likely to switch brands, if comparable in price and quality, to one that supports a social cause. Many companies are already filling the void. TOMS for instance, packages each shoe purchase with the donation of a pair of shoes to someone in need. Other sharing businesses have emerged, with Lyft and AirBnB tapping into the idea that we don’t need to buy stuff, we can share what we have. Companies like yerdle, Recycebank, and Wendy Gordon’s most recent venture, PIPs rewards, have taken it a step further.

Recyclebank, yerdle and PIPs Rewards have each developed a virtual currency that people can earn for taking measurable, positive actions – and which they’re able to spend on real goods, discounts and services. With Recyclebank, people can earn points by participating in household recycling and taking steps toward a more sustainable future through education and other green actions. The points can then be redeemed for discounts at local and national businesses or on Recyclebank's new online shop for sustainable products, One Twine. On yerdle, users earn points for giving away items on the platform, such as kids clothes, electronics, kitchen tools, and camping gear. The points they earn can be used to “purchase” items on the site that others are giving away.  With PIPs Rewards, users earn points by making better choices like converting to e-billing, switching to solar or volunteering, and can redeem them to purchase better products, or to donate or micro-invest them in worthy projects.

Each panelist brings a unique perspective from their journeys in sustainability and altruistic currency, offering exceptional learning outcomes:

  • How the sharing economy has evolved in response to consumer demand.
  • The structure of the sharing economy’s next evolution--reducing the exchange of money and actually purchasing goods and services with positive actions.
  • How we can respond to consumer needs and demands while maintaining a high level of social responsibility and still be profitable.
  • How virtual currencies are powerful motivators, and how behavioral psychology can be used as a force for good

 

To see this panel on the SXSWEco stage, simply login to your account or create an account in PanelPicker here: https://auth.sxsw.com/users/sign_in. You can then give the panel a thumbs-up here: http://shar.es/SC9vc. Voting closes on May 16, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.