ISO 42503:2026

Sharing economy — Framework for implementation

This document establishes a framework for the implementation of a sharing economy. It specifies requirements for and gives guidance on the operational economic, social, environmental, legal and other considerations and factors associated with implementation of sharing economy applications and approaches in sharing economy contexts. This document is applicable to all actors participating in the sharing economy ecosystem, including platform operators, providers, users and other stakeholders. This document is applicable to all types and sizes of organization (e.g. commercial enterprises, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations).

Economie du partage — Cadre pour la mise en œuvre

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Jun-2026
• ICS: 03.080.01 - Services in general
• ICS: 35.240.63 - IT applications in trade
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 324 - Sharing economy
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 324 - Sharing economy
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 12-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 29-Jun-2026
• Completion Date: 12-Jun-2026

Overview

ISO 42503:2026 - Sharing economy - Framework for implementation is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This document provides a comprehensive framework for implementing sharing economy initiatives across diverse contexts. It specifies requirements and offers guidance for addressing operational, economic, social, environmental, legal, and other factors critical for the successful deployment of sharing economy applications. The standard is relevant to all actors in the sharing economy ecosystem, including platform operators, providers, users, and supporting stakeholders. Applicability spans all organization types and sizes, from commercial enterprises and governmental agencies to not-for-profit entities.

By adopting ISO 42503:2026, organizations gain a structured approach to building trust, managing risks, and aligning activities with the principles of integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusion, and competence in the sharing economy.

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Key Topics

• Framework Components: Outlines essential elements for sharing economy implementation, including governance structures, human resources management, risk management, compliance strategies, stakeholder engagement, and supply chain controls.
• Roles and Interactions: Defines the relationships between platform operators, providers, users, governments, supporting market players (banks, insurers, service providers), and other stakeholders within the sharing economy ecosystem.
• Operational Considerations: Addresses key requirements for platform operations, transparency, trustworthiness, user engagement, and continual improvement.
• Risk Management: Guides organizations in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks, including cyber security and privacy concerns, through proactive strategies and regular reviews.
• Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Stresses the importance of understanding and adhering to applicable laws across jurisdictions, including consumer protection, taxation, data privacy, and labor classification.
• Complaint Handling: Provides a process for effective complaints management to ensure customer satisfaction and redress, referencing approaches from ISO 10002.

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Applications

ISO 42503:2026 can be applied in a variety of sharing economy sectors, such as transportation, accommodation, equipment rental, co-working spaces, and peer-to-peer services. Practical applications include:

• Platform Development & Operations: Enables platform operators to design and manage platforms that facilitate safe, trustworthy, and efficient user-provider transactions.
• Government Regulation & Oversight: Assists governmental bodies in setting clear policies and oversight mechanisms that protect consumers, workers, and the environment while supporting innovation.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Helps organizations in identifying operational risks, implementing security controls, and designing compliance structures that address legal requirements and consumer expectations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Provides approaches to mapping, communicating with, and integrating feedback from stakeholders, strengthening ecosystem relationships and public trust.
• Continual Improvement: Encourages all participants to regularly review and refine processes, policies, and technologies to stay aligned with technological, economic, and societal developments.

Organizations using ISO 42503:2026 can not only optimize operational efficiency and innovation but also demonstrate commitment to responsible, ethical, and sustainable practices aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Related Standards

Adoption of ISO 42503:2026 is supported and complemented by several related international standards:

• ISO 42500: Sharing economy - General principles
• ISO/TS 42502: Sharing economy - Guidance for provider verification on digital platforms
• ISO 42501: Sharing economy - Requirements for digital platform operators (referenced for complaints handling)
• ISO 10002: Quality management - Customer satisfaction - Guidelines for complaints handling in organizations
• ISO/IEC 27001: Information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection - Information security management systems
• ISO 37009: Guidance for identifying and resolving conflicts of interest

These standards collectively help organizations establish best practices, ensure interoperability, enhance consumer trust, and maintain secure, transparent, and compliant sharing economy operations.

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By implementing ISO 42503:2026, organizations can navigate the complexities of the sharing economy with confidence, driving sustainable value and fostering innovation across the digital platform landscape.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 42503
First edition
Sharing economy — Framework for
2026-06
implementation
Economie du partage — Cadre pour la mise en œuvre
Reference number
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Relationships between platform operator, provider, user and other actors in the
implementation framework. 3
5 Sharing economy implementation framework. 4
5.1 General .4
5.2 Role of government, market players and supporting ecosystem in the sharing economy
implementation framework .5
5.2.1 Governments .5
5.2.2 Sharing economy market players .5
5.2.3 Sharing economy supporting ecosystem . .6
5.3 Implementation framework components .6
5.3.1 General .6
5.3.2 Governance structure .6
5.3.3 Human resources .6
5.3.4 Risk management .7
5.3.5 Compliance .7
5.3.6 Stakeholder engagement .7
5.3.7 Supply chain/business partner controls .7
5.3.8 Whistleblower information and protection .7
5.3.9 Redress/grievance response .7
5.3.10 Communication.8
6 Continual improvement . . 8
Annex A (informative) Complaints handling process . 9
Bibliography .12

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 324, Sharing economy.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
A distinctive feature of the sharing economy as a new economic model is its reliance on a triangular set of
interactions among providers and users, facilitated by platform operators.
Figure 1 — Figure representing sharing economy
The sharing economy potentially provides new opportunities and innovations for the production and
distribution of different types of products and assets. As such, if the sharing economy model is properly
structured and implemented, it can generate wealth, provide needed products and assets and align with
the economic, social and environmental objectives articulated in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, it is important to recognize that, if applications of the sharing
economy are not developed and implemented properly, they can have potential adverse effects on workers,
consumers, citizens, businesses, the environment and other interests.
This document specifies requirements for and gives guidance on the operationalization of this new economic
model. This document is intended to assist in realizing the positive potential of the sharing economy while
minimizing its adverse effects in diverse applications of the unique sharing economy triangular model.
This document addresses key economic, social, and environmental considerations and factors associated
with planning, developing, governance, management, delivery, monitoring, evaluating, and continually
improving sharing economy applications and approaches in a manner that is optimally aligned with
the UN SDGs. This is particularly important for key actors and stakeholders within the sharing economy
ecosystem (i.e. the infrastructure and services associated with the network of organizations, other actors
and stakeholders involved in the sharing economy).
Via a structured implementation framework, government, platform operators, providers, users and other
actors and stakeholders will also be able to better relate to and understand the connection, interaction,
impact and benefit of evolving digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity,
metaverse, web3.0, fintech, etc. that potentially impact on their existing sharing economy applications, and
thus plan for necessary interventions and actions.
This document complements ISO 42500, ISO 42501 and ISO/TS 42502.

v
International Standard ISO 42503:2026(en)
Sharing economy — Framework for implementation
1 Scope
This document establishes a framework for the implementation of a sharing economy. It specifies
requirements for and gives guidance on the operational economic, social, environmental, legal and other
considerations and factors associated with implementation of sharing economy applications and approaches
in sharing economy contexts.
This document is applicable to all actors participating in the sharing economy ecosystem, including platform
operators, providers, users and other stakeholders.
This document is applicable to all types and sizes of organization (e.g. commercial enterprises, government
agencies, not-for-profit organizations).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 42500, Sharing economy — General principles
ISO/TS 42502, Sharing economy — Guidance for provider verification on digital platforms
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 42500 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
framework
foundational structure for the operation and management of sharing economy (3.3) applications
3.2
ecosystem
interacting components and services that support the network of organizations, stakeholders (3.8) and other
actors (3.10) involved in the sharing economy (3.3)
Note 1 to entry: Organizations can include public bodies.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 27400:2022, 3.8, modified — “interacting components and services that support the”
replaced “infrastructure and services based on a” and “and other actors involved in the sharing economy”
added.]
3.3
sharing economy
economic model where platforms enable providers (3.5) and users (3.9) to exchange products (3.7) and assets
Note 1 to entry: In the sharing economy:

a) platforms are neither providers nor users of the products and assets exchanged between providers and users;
b) exchanges between providers and users can take place both online and offline;
c) exchanges can be and are often intended to be “peer to peer” of underutilized resources, for free or for a fee;
d) platforms facilitate transactions between providers and users, such as payment processing, insurance
procurement, reputational rating/review systems and complaints handling;
e) providers can provide assets or access to assets.
Note 2 to entry: There are many different types of economic models. The sharing economy is one type of economic
model.
[SOURCE: ISO 42500:2021, 3.1, modified — Note 3 to entry deleted.]
3.4
platform operator
individual or entity that administers a platform
Note 1 to entry: In the sharing economy (3.3), the platform operator:
a) is neither a provider (3.5) nor a user (3.9);
b) can administer an online or an offline platform;
c) can engage in interactions with providers and users to support the exchange of products (3.7) and assets between
providers and users.
[SOURCE: ISO 42500:2021, 3.3]
3.5
provider
individual or organization that provides products (3.7) and/or assets to users (3.9) using a platform
Note 1 to entry: In the sharing economy (3.3), a provider is not a platform operator (3.4).
Note 2 to entry: A “trader” is an example of an individual or organization that provides products/assets.
[SOURCE: ISO 42500:2021, 3.4, modified — Note 2 to entry added.]
3.6
risk
effect of uncertainty
Note 1 to entry: An effect is a deviation from the expected — positive or negative.
Note 2 to entry: Uncertainty is the state, even partial, of deficiency of information related to, understanding or
knowledge of, an event, its consequence, or likelihood.
Note 3 to entry: Risk is often characterized by reference to potential events and consequences, or a combination of
these.
Note 4 to entry: Risk is often expressed in terms of a combination of the consequences of an event (including changes
in circumstances) and the associated likelihood of occurrence.
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2026, 3.7.2, modified — Note 5 to entry deleted.]
3.7
product
good or service
[SOURCE: ISO 14024:2026, 3.2.1, modified — “good” replaced “any goods”.]

3.8
stakeholder
individual, group or organization that does not have any particular interest in any sharing economy (3.3)
decision or activity, but can in its decisions and actions in some way affect the operation of the sharing
economy (e.g. the media)
Note 1 to entry: An effect is a deviation from the expected – positive or negative.
3.9
user
individual or organization that is a recipient of a provider’s (3.5)products (3.7) and assets
Note 1 to entry: In the sharing economy (3.3):
a) “recipient” includes a proxy of a recipient and a potential recipient (e.g. individual or organization who browses
on a platform);
b) a user can include a customer as defined in ISO 9000 and a consumer as defined in ISO/IEC Guide 76.
[SOURCE: ISO 42500:2021, 3.5]
3.10
actor
organization or individual that fulfils a role
[SOURCE: ISO 23234:2021, 3.4]
3.11
government
set of state institutions that control and administer a collectivity in a particular jurisdiction
Note 1 to entry: States can have several levels or spheres of government, depending on the political organization of
that country, such as local or municipal, regional or state governments, and national or federal.
3.12
sharing economy supporting ecosystem
interconnected network of actors and mechanisms that directly or indirectly support the continued
operation of the sharing economy including the platform operator, the provider and the user, as well as the
interacting set of individuals, organizations and mechanisms that facilitate the ongoing functioning of the
sharing economy by providing services, resources and technology that assist in enabling, enhancing and
improving the implementation of the sharing economy
Note 1 to entry: The sharing economy supporting ecosystem includes market players other than the platform operator,
the provider and the user, who in one way or the other facilitate sharing economy transactions (e.g. banks, insurance
companies, support service companies), the mechanisms employed to facilitate transactions (e.g. credit card payment
systems). They all interact to create the sharing economy ecosystem.
3.13
sharing economy market players
businesses, individuals and organizations (profit and non-profit) that are part of the sharing economy
supporting ecosystem (3.12)
4 Relationships between platform operator, provider, user and other actors in the
implementation framework
As depicted in ISO 42500, the basic sharing economy model generally involves a triangular relationship
between platform operators, providers and users, and the interactions between these parties.
These interactions are intermediated via a platform which typically involves five distinct transaction phases
(see Figure 2): on-boarding, information delivery/update, connection, transaction and rating/review.

As described in ISO 42501 and ISO/TS 42502, platform operators provide necessary mechanisms and
resources to ensure that transactions between provider and user are facilitated in a transparent,
trustworthy, accountable and inclusive manner.
In accordance with ISO/TS 42502 regarding matters related to verification of their identity, capability and
capacity as well as legality of their products and/or assets, the provider shall conform to requirements set
by the platform operators.
The individual and/or organization that is the recipient of the products and/or assets shall interact and
transact with the provider via the platform in a manner that is consistent with the general principles of the
sharing economy as described in ISO 42500.
In a typical scenario, the user will communicate and exchange information on their requirements for a
product and/or assets via the platform. The platform operator will then provide necessary mechanisms to
communicate and ensure that the information is passed on an
...