European Rental Association
ERA
The key mission of ERA is to promote the rental concept in order to facilitate a continued growth of a sustainable and professional rental industry in Europe.
ID: 163373217053-39
Lobbying Activity
Response to Construction services Act
15 Dec 2025
ERA welcomes the European Commissions Call for Evidence for the forthcoming Construction Services Act and fully supports the initiatives objective to improve the free movement of construction and installation services within the Single Market. The rental industry relies on the ability to deploy equipment and skilled operators across borders quickly, particularly in border regions where market proximity does not translate into real market access. We strongly support 1.Enhanced mutual recognition of authorisations, certificates and proof of competence. 2.An EU-wide card (Option 2.4) as a potential long-term solution, provided that implementation remains digital, interoperable and minimally burdensome for SMEs. 3.Procurement rules that are neutral between ownership and rental and that facilitate cross-border participation. 4.Explicit inclusion of equipment rental in Green Public Procurement criteria. Already in 2017, ERA had expressed in a position paper. its concerns about the internal market-related barriers, demonstrating with real examples from European equipment rental companies. For more details, please click on our feedback attached below.
Read full responseResponse to EU taxonomy - Review of the environmental delegated act
4 Dec 2025
The contribution by ERA - European Rental Association is attached.
Read full responseResponse to Circular Economy Act
6 Nov 2025
The contribution of ERA - European Rental Association is attached.
Read full responseResponse to Initiative on EU taxonomy - environmental objective
26 Apr 2023
The position paper of European Rental Association on EU taxonomy for sustainable activities is attached.
Read full responseResponse to Climate change mitigation and adaptation taxonomy
3 Dec 2020
ERA – the European Rental Association welcomes the draft delegated act under the taxonomy regulation establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We would like to make the following comment:
In the activity description for the construction sector, we call for explicit inclusion of the construction equipment rental activities in Annex I and Annex 2 of the delegated act. We propose to include NACE code N77.32 in points 7.1 (Construction of new buildings) and 7.2 (Renovation of existing buildings) in both Annexes.
Using construction equipment plays a part in the overall emissions of any construction or renovation process. As established in 2019 by an independent study on the carbon footprint of construction equipment (https://erarental.org/en/publications/sustainability/carbon-footprint-of-construction-equipment) the equipment rental is contributing to lowering the carbon emissions in the construction sector through optimizing use, utilisation, transportation and end-of-life treatment of the equipment.
Read full responseResponse to A new Circular Economy Action Plan
17 Jan 2020
ERA – European Rental Association supports the aim of the New Circular Economy Action Plan to increase the circularity of the EU’s economy in order to achieve a climate-neutral continent. We believe that the EU’s transition towards a circular economy needs to incorporate more the business models that allow for circularity in the economy.
The rental model is by definition a circular one.
In the priority sector of construction, renting is a great way to minimise the carbon footprint of construction equipment. A new independent study shows that efficient use of equipment can lead to significant reductions, in the range of 30% and sometimes over 50% of its total carbon footprint, depending on specific user practice. (https://erarental.org/en/publications/sustainability/carbon-footprint-of-construction-equipment )
ERA calls for the EU policies to recognize the rental model as part of the circular economy and as one of the solutions to help decarbonize the construction sector.
What makes the rental model circular?
SHARED USAGE:
• The construction companies can access equipment when required.
• Utilisation (intensity of use): Renting maximises the utilisation rate of each piece of equipment reducing the amount of equipment required.
• Transportation: Rented equipment usually travels shorter distances, and delivery trucks rarely travel back empty. This combined with the fact that truck size and load factors are optimised significantly reduces fuel use and emissions from transport.
RECYCLABILITY and REPAIRABILITY:
• The rental companies contribute to a product design facilitating maintenance and repair activities, focus on spare parts management and demand increased information on product repair from the equipment manufacturers.
• Components of the dismantled construction equipment can be reused.
• Repairing when it is still possible, and recycling when it is at the end of its life cycle.
RESOURCE USE:
• Adequacy: Renting helps ensure the right equipment is used for the job. By providing a wide range of products to choose from, it enables contractors to use the best machine for the task.
• Maintenance: Rented equipment is very well-maintained, which increases its efficiency and extends the lifetime.
• Rental companies invest more in R&D to limit the use of non-recyclable material.
• They take responsibility for end-of-life of equipment by collecting, reusing or recycling.
Read full response