The average power drill is used for about 12 minutes in its entire life. A pressure washer, a few hours. A tent, two weekends. Every one of those objects was mined, manufactured, shipped and packaged for a few minutes of use — and most of the environmental impact of a product happens before it is ever switched on. Renting instead of buying is the simplest way to cut that, and it needs no new habit beyond asking "can I borrow this?" before "where can I buy this?"
Where the impact actually is
For durable goods, manufacturing typically accounts for 60–90% of lifetime emissions; the electricity to run a drill is negligible by comparison. So the sustainable question is not "how efficient is my tool" but "how many households does one tool serve". A pressure washer shared among twenty neighbours replaces nineteen pressure washers — nineteen motors, nineteen boxes, nineteen eventual trips to the recycling centre.
Items where renting makes the biggest difference
- Power tools and garden equipment — high embodied energy, tiny usage.
- Event gear — tables, chairs, speakers, projectors, marquees: bought for one party, stored for years.
- Outdoor and travel — tents, roof boxes, bike carriers, ski gear, child carriers.
- Baby and child equipment — outgrown in months; ideal for renting or passing on.
- Cleaning machines — carpet cleaners, steam cleaners, dehumidifiers.
- Cargo bikes — the one rental that can also replace a car.
How to start this week
- Before any purchase over ~€50, check local listings first. Make it the default step, the way you check a price.
- List the three things in your home that have not moved in a year. Someone nearby needs exactly those.
- Keep a mental "rent list": things you nearly bought and rented instead. After a year it is usually surprisingly long.
It also saves money
Renting from a private owner typically costs 40–60% of a hire shop and a fraction of buying. On the other side, lending out what you own earns most people €25–€200 a month — not a fortune, but enough to notice, from objects that were otherwise depreciating in a cupboard. Sustainability that pays is sustainability that sticks.
What to keep in mind
Local proximity matters — a rental that requires a 30 km car trip each way eats much of the benefit, which is why sharing works best within a neighbourhood. And keep it honest and documented: condition photos and a short rental agreement between you and the other person. Platforms like LocaYo host the listing and the chat; payment, deposit and any damage are sorted directly between the two of you.
See what you could rent instead of buy near you, or put your idle things to work.
FAQ — renting as sustainable living
Is renting really more sustainable than buying? For durable items used occasionally, yes — most of a product's environmental impact is in manufacturing, so one shared item replacing many purchases is a large saving.
Need this gear near you?
Browse rental listings from people near you — often cheaper than a rental shop. And if you have unused gear, list it and start earning.
Which items have the biggest environmental payoff when rented? Power tools, garden machines, event equipment, outdoor gear, baby equipment and cleaning machines — high embodied energy, very low use per household.
Does renting cost more over time? Not for occasional use. Including storage, maintenance and resale loss, owning an item used a few days a year is the more expensive option.
How do I find things to rent locally? Local rental platforms, neighbourhood groups and tool libraries. On LocaYo you can browse by distance and message the owner directly.
Is it safe to rent from strangers? With basic practice — photos of the condition at handover, a short written agreement, an agreed deposit — problems are rare. The platform doesn't insure items, so those steps are your protection.
What does it mean that sharing is "circular"? Circular economy means keeping existing products in use for longer instead of making new ones. Sharing does that without redesigning anything — it simply raises how often each object is used.
Can renting out my things make money? Modestly: €25–€200 a month is typical for a few well-priced items, paid directly to you by the renter.
What if I only need something once? That is the ideal rental case. Buying for a single use is where the waste is greatest.