Nuw is a mobile marketplace app for swapping preloved clothing: users upload items to earn coins, then use coins (or pay a small fee) plus postage to obtain other users' garments, extending clothing lifecycles.
Circularity Relevance
Core
Platform's primary purpose is peer-to-peer swapping of clothing (enables reuse and redistribution), a core circular economy activity Source: Fast Company, 2023.
Circular Role
DirectEnabler
Nuw directly hosts and executes peer-to-peer swapping transactions between users (the platform operates the marketplace and token mechanics).
Circular Type
Marketplace
• Products
• C2C
Functions as a consumer-to-consumer marketplace for physical products (preloved clothing). Matches users who post items with users who take items using coin/token mechanics Source: Fast Company, 2023.
R Strategy
R3 - Reuse
Primary strategy is Reuse (R3) - facilitating reuse of garments through direct swaps. This is explicitly described in press and platform listings. No direct evidence platform enables repair/refurbishment workflows.
Circular Business Model
Sharing / Collaborative Use, Resale / Second-hand
Core model is peer-to-peer swapping (sharing/collaborative use). The platform also functions as a second‑hand exchange mechanism enabling redistribution of products between consumers (resale). Evidence: platform/app descriptions and press Source: Fast Company, 2023Source: The Pretty Planeteer, 2021.
Organisational Type
ForProfit
Described in press as a startup and consumer mobile app offering paid swaps (fee per swap), indicating a for‑profit commercial model Source: Fast Company, 2023.
Coverage and platform guides cite UK & Ireland as primary countries of operation; press articles describe UK/Irish activity. No authoritative company HQ page found (website inaccessible) so set to Regional (UK & Ireland) with medium confidence Source: The Pretty Planeteer, 2021.
Hardware Component
None
Service is delivered as a mobile app/platform; no evidence that provider supplies or requires specialised hardware to deliver swapping functionality (no IoT or sorting machines mentioned).
Tech Map Relevance
Nuw operates a clothing swap marketplace that directly enables reuse of garments and thus meets the Circular Tech Map inclusion criteria. Evidence: press coverage and platform descriptions describe peer-to-peer clothing swaps and coin/token mechanics Source: Fast Company, 2023; see also platform listings and articles Source: The Pretty Planeteer, 2021Source: Everything Marketplaces, 2022. Note: the company website provided is currently inaccessible, so assessment uses third-party coverage and app listings.
Enablers are initially categorised by an AI agent, then verified by a real human. Suggestions or corrections are most welcome.
