From being accustomed to renting our homes, and that power drill you only need once, we now don’t mind renting a nail polish that someone else has already had their hands on, or not owning our washing machine. But why aren’t people so keen to own material possessions anymore?

A new $700 billion opportunity has emerged from the unlikeliest of places: the bin. As sustainability goes mainstream, smart businesses are adding value to their brands by making sustainability cool, cost-effective and convenient.

With 425 sq ft apartments becoming the norm in North America, space is an issue. But as more people want to eat well, there's nowhere to put the juicer and sous-vide machine. The Kitchen Library in Toronto lets people rent kitchen equipment for a small fee, saving space and money.

Car experts think that Europe is already experiencing 'peak car'. With smartphones and the internet offering young people freedom, renting rather than owning feels more appropriate to free-wheeling Gen Y. Could Audi’s sharing scheme signal a turning point in the industry?