ERA updates green mission statement

The European Rental Association has released an updated version of its ‘Manifesto on the environmental benefits of rental’, first published in 2015, to lobby for rental as an environmentally sustainable solution for equipment users.

The move comes in light of EU countries’ commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, delivering on the commitments under the Paris Agreement, via The European Green Deal.

“In line with the European Green Deal, equipment rental contributes to the transition to a circular economy and the fight against climate change, and ERA calls on the EU to recognise the environment benefits of rental based on the core principles of shared usage, repairability, resource use, reusability and recyclability,” ERA said in a statement. 

“By renting equipment, companies and individuals can contribute to a more sustainable world in various ways and minimise the negative environmental impact of equipment.”

The manifesto outlines key areas in which equipment rental promotes sustainability.

Shared usage

Construction companies and other rental customers can access equipment when required, improving efficiency, while rental asset management leads to higher utilisation and more efficiency in equipment use.

“Rented equipment travels shorter distances and delivery trucks rarely travel back empty – as the equipment is shared between customers and job sites, truck sizes and load factors are also optimised, significantly reducing emissions from transport,” ERA said. 

Image: Reuters / Bildagentur-online/Ohde / Alamy.

Repairability

Rental companies contribute to a product design that facilitates maintenance and repair activities; they also focus on spare parts management and request greater levels of information on product repair from OEMs.

Resource use

The ERA added that rental companies increasingly invest in green fleets to offer modern equipment utilising low carbon intensity fuels and other alternative energies, provide theoretical and practical training to their customers to optimise the use of equipment, and provide customers with data about their use of the equipment, which improves environmental efficiency.

Reusability and recyclability

Components of dismantled equipment can be reused, while rental companies take care of their equipment through repairs, when it is still possible, and recycling, when it is at the end of its life cycle.

They can also use their bargaining power “to demand equipment suppliers limit the use of non-recyclable material and take responsibility for end-of-life management by collecting, reusing or recycling equipment.”

The European Rental Association’s ‘Manifesto on the environmental benefits of rental’ is available to download on the ERA website and is free to use by rental companies: https://erarental.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ERA-manifesto-on-the-environmental-benefits-of-rental.pdf.