When we think of February, Valentine’s Day often springs to mind. It’s a time to reflect on our relationships, appreciate the people who matter most, and share heartfelt sentiments. But beyond love for others, it’s also a time to consider self-love—caring for our own well-being and nurturing our passions. At EXP, we aim to empower individuals to lead meaningful lives and thrive in the sharing economy.
This February, we want to take our theme of “love” one step further—towards loving the planet. Environmental sustainability, a cornerstone of EXP’s values, is an expression of love for the earth, future generations, and ourselves. Just as we care for the people around us, so too must we care for the world we all share.
How Can We Show Love to the Planet?
Loving the planet isn’t just about preserving its beauty; it’s about ensuring that future generations can enjoy unforgettable moments without being burdened by environmental degradation.
Shifting from material consumption to experience-based living naturally encourages more sustainable habits. In fact, experiences bring more long-term happiness than material possessions, all while reducing environmental strain. A 2020 study by Kumar et al. found that people find more happiness from experiences than from material purchases, regardless of when their happiness is measured—before, during, or after consumption. Even though material goods are used for longer periods, experiences create greater satisfaction because they create memories, whereas the perceived value of physical items fades over time.
Loving the planet also means being mindful of how we consume. Sustainable consumption, as outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12, is key to preserving resources for future generations. If global consumption patterns remain unchanged, we may need the resources of almost three planets to sustain our lifestyles by 2050. By choosing quality over quantity, supporting ethical brands, and being thoughtful about what we buy, we can minimise our ecological footprint (United Nations, n.d.). Similarly, a minimalist lifestyle shifts the focus from accumulating possessions to prioritising what truly adds value to our lives. These principles align with experience-based living by emphasising fulfilment through connection and creativity rather than material excess.
At EXP, we’ve integrated sustainability into our offerings through thoughtful design. Take our minimalist hotels, SLEEEP, for example. They feature eco-friendly “SLPers” crafted from organic cotton, pine wood from FSC-certified sources, and vegan materials—ensuring comfort that’s kind to both you and the planet. Additionally, an innovative heat-recapture system in the showers reduces energy waste. Efforts such as these highlight our mission to lead by example in fostering environmental responsibility.
CORE: Empowering Sustainable Practices
Central to our sustainability vision is CORE, a revolutionary system designed to help individuals and businesses manage their resources more effectively. CORE empowers solopreneurs and businesses alike to craft and offer customers lasting happy memories while minimising environmental impact.
What does this mean in practice?
- Reducing Overconsumption: Materialism drives the overproduction of goods, a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with the industrial sector alone responsible for nearly 30% (World Economic Forum, 2024). By enabling the sharing and optimisation of resources, CORE helps users transition from material goods to experiential value—offering happiness without excess waste.
- Maximising Resource Utility: From spare rooms to specialised skills, CORE allows users to unlock the potential of underutilized resources, transforming them into valuable experiences. By sharing what we have and what we know, we contribute to a more interconnected and caring world.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
As you celebrate love this February, consider how you can extend that love to the planet. Whether it’s by embracing experiences, or simply making eco-conscious choices in your daily life, every action counts. Together, we can build a future where love for the earth is at the heart of everything we do.
Let’s transform how we live, work, and connect—for a world that’s more sustainable, equitable, and filled with meaningful experiences. Join us on this journey to create a planet that we, and generations to come, can love wholeheartedly.
Sources:
Kumar, A., Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilovich, T. (2020). Spending on doing promotes more moment-to-moment happiness than spending on having. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 88, 103971. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103119305256
United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable consumption and production. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/
World Economic Forum. (2024). Industrial firms are turning net zero goals into practice. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/06/industrial-sector-turning-net-zero-goals-into-practice/
