About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

image of sofa


Created
: 2009
Where: United Kingdom
Scale: Over 400 Freegle groups with over 2.6 million members in the UK

From fish tanks, to knitting wool, to sofas and roof tiles, Freegle is 'online dating for stuff', connecting people that are looking for something with someone who is giving it away, increasing reuse and reducing landfill.

Established in 2009 after severing ties with American company Freecycle, Freegle focused on developing a more democratic network of volunteers. This network is made up of millions of volunteers, all bound by a passion for the environment, that maintain and moderate the online platform, connecting people in local communities to things they need.

With the recent shift away from a throw-away culture, services like Freecycle that celebrate sustainable living practices, reuse and upcycling are definitely on the up.