Cutting Emissions from Construction Equipment: the Missing Link in the Renovation Wave

The European Rental Association (ERA), the voice of the equipment rental industry, welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s Renovation Wave initiative, and calls on EU decision-makers to seize this opportunity to move towards a more circular, low-carbon construction sector.

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“Today’s publication marks an important milestone in the EU’s quest to promote sustainable building practices, affirming that the Renovation Wave will only succeed if emissions are drastically reduced in the construction, renovation and demolition phases of the building lifecycle.

It is particularly encouraging to see that Commission experts will explore ways to cut CO₂ emissions by reusing building materials and reducing construction waste. However, it is equally important to consider emissions stemming from the construction equipment being used. Currently, this represents the missing link between the Renovation Wave and New Circular Economy Action Plan, as renting construction equipment is shown to reduce emissions in many cases by at least 30% over the full lifecycle of the product. It is, therefore, imperative that EU policy-makers assess ways to promote renting together with other low-carbon practices as part of the Renovation Wave.”

• Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, European Rental Association

ERA recently published its Sustainable Supplier Framework, which will encourage the take up of greener rental options by defining minimum sustainability requirements for all suppliers to rental companies.

By the end of the year, ERA will also launch its carbon calculator, an innovative new tool to measure the carbon footprint of construction equipment and support more sustainable choices.