I'm not the only one asking myself this question - more and more clothing manufacturers are too. Pyua and Schöffel in particular. Pyua CEO Stefan Mohr explains: "Pyua Rental is another way for us to promote awareness towards considered consumption. Following the principle of the sharing economy, we want to make our clothing accessible to all consumers. Through our rental concept, we not only give people the opportunity to test our innovative and recyclable clothing, but also to use our resources more efficiently together." Two different outfits can be rented via the clothing manufacturer's website. Jackets are available from 69 euros, pants from 59 euros and midlayers from 39 euros. The minimum rental period is four days. I tried out the system and rented a midlayer. Four days. 39 euros plus reusable packaging for a further 2.50 euros. I added it to my digital shopping cart and two days later the jacket arrived in my letterbox. For my test, it accompanies me in everyday life. At the end of the rental period, Pyua sends me a DHL stamp and I can send the jacket back. Pyua cleans it and puts it back into the rental cycle.
Schöffel also follows this motto and wants to make it easier for beginners to get into skiing with its rental service. Last winter, the Schwabmünchen-based company already offered rental clothing for children and adults via Intersport in Austria. In Switzerland, the rental service is also available through various retailers.
In addition to skis and clothing, the rental of safety equipment such as (avalanche) backpacks or safety equipment is also on the rise. At Ortovox, for example, you can find dealers who rent out Ortovox backpacks and avalanche equipment via the company's own website. The avalanche backpack manufacturer ABS also has a website where you can rent a backpack for your next ski adventure. But how sensible - and sustainable - is renting clothing and equipment?
Is renting more sustainable than buying?
At first glance, I immediately want to shout: "Yes, of course!" After all, those who own more are also responsible for more CO2. But is that really true? Here we can refer to the Fettes Brot classic: YES! Or: it depends. Rentals and subscriptions are booming. From films, series and music to the Cyclon running shoe from On Running. The concept behind subscription and rental services is called Product as a Service and is part of the performance economy, which in turn is part of the circular economy. So if we rent a jacket from Pyua or an avalanche backpack from ABS, for example, the manufacturers have an interest in making the products as durable as possible. And, above all, as circular as possible. Until now, manufacturers have been rewarded for designing disposable products. This is obsolete with rental products. After all, the jacket or backpack remains the property of the manufacturer and at the end of a product's life cycle, as many components as possible should ideally be reprocessed into a jacket or backpack.
However, if we rent clothes, for example, they have to be cleaned and waterproofed more often. Sometimes - as in my case - it even has to be shipped. That costs resources and requires more planning. Not a sustainability issue, but nevertheless: we are no longer as flexible. And should therefore ask ourselves the question in advance: Am I more of a ski owner or a rental nomad now?
