Draft:NorthShoreLife Sandbox Airbnb

Introduction
Airbnb, operating in the sharing economy business model, promotes the optimization and efficiency of existing resource usage, particularly infrastructure and energy. By enabling property owners to rent out their unused spaces, the sharing economy model not only maximizes the use of existing assets but also reduces the demand for new infrastructure, contingent on sustainable travel. However, as a digital platform facilitating transactions between 200 million users as of 2020, the company poses a significant energy demand through both its operating headquarters and data management facilities.

Sustainability in the Sharing Economy
The sharing economy, embodied by Airbnb and accompanied by corporations such as Uber, Lyft, Zipcar, and others, marks a pivotal shift in resource utilization. It permits the pooling of household resources for market exchange, enabling a more efficient use of property. Based on this recognition, Airbnb has been pinpointed as a sustainable alternative to conventional accommodations, such as hotels. Studies, such as the Cleantech Groups 2018 analysis of Airbnb, have highlighted Airbnb’s efficient resource usage, citing that those accommodations on Airbnb’s platform consumed 12% less water than hotel accommodations per guest per night in North America, while the figure grew to a 48% decrease in water consumption compared to hotel accommodations in Europe. Additionally, properties listed on Airbnb’s platform consume roughly 63% less energy than traditional alternatives per guest per night in North America, and 78% less energy in Europe. In 2020, a study focused on Sydney, Australia, concluded that Airbnb’s platform and its hosts contributed a direct and indirect carbon footprint of between 7.27 to 9.39 kg of CO2 per room per night.

Challenges of Digital Operations
While Airbnb does not operate or own its own data centers, outsourcing these services still greatly contributes to climate change through significant energy consumption and carbon emissions corresponding to data storage and processing. Data management facilities account for roughly 2.5% to 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This figure exceeds emissions from sectors such as aviation, shipping, and tobacco & food processing. The electricity powering data management facilities often stems from immense fossil fuel usage, leading to indirect emissions. Furthermore, the construction of data centers contributes to carbon emissions through energy-extensive materials such as concrete and metals. The data center sector is increasingly focusing on more efficient operations strategies, specifically implementing renewable energy sources and enhancing cooling technologies.

Climate Change's Impact on Airbnb
Climate change is influencing Airbnb and it's operations by warranting adaptations in it's current business model and service offerings to address environmental concerns, particularly those associated with travel and tourism. Airbnb acknowledges potential risks to it's operations stemming from the physical effects of climate change, which include more frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation. These anticipated challenges may have material affects on Airbnb's business and operations by damaging host properties, limiting listings in affected areas, increasing operating costs and insurance, and potentially contributing to a decline in hosts and guests alike. Airbnb must emphasize the importance of adapting to these potential externalities to mitigate unfavorable effects on their business model and ensure the sustainability of their corporation.

Host Sustainability Efforts
A 2010 study suggests Airbnb hosts display a strong interest in environmental certification programs, suggesting a commitment to environmental sustainability practices. The results of the study align with a desire to adopt practices that not only reduce host environmental impact but also attract an influx of guests who value eco-friendly accommodation.

Sustainability Reporting
Sustainability reporting is pivotal as it demonstrates a company's commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. For companies like Airbnb, transparent and consistent reporting promotes trust among all stakeholders, including both hosts and guests, by emphasizing an effort to minimize environmental impact from operations and promoting sustainable business practices. While Airbnb currently does not disclose extensive sustainability information, as an industry leader, Airbnb has the opportunity to embrace greater transparency, which may benefit both the company and the broader community.