The collaborative economy is a peer-to-peer economy. It is based on the sharing or exchanging of goods, services and/or knowledge between individuals, with or without a monetary exchange, through a digital networking platform.  It covers both platforms for the exchange of goods and services between private individuals without the pursuit of profit and platforms for commercial offers.

With the development of new information and communication technologies, this economic model has taken on an unprecedented dimension. Now the challenge for these platforms is that they contribute to more responsible consumption patterns (less over-consumption, resource saving, etc.), and that their business models ensure that the common good is shared by all.