The latest news and updates from the access economy, and how item renting and sharing became that little bit easier in January 2026.
EU-funded Access Hubs project launches to grow access-based services across North-West Europe
The initiative was launched with funding from Interreg North West Europe to accelerate the expansion of access-based services across the region. The project focuses on three core goals:
1. Supporting SMEs, NGOs and social enterprises to strengthen and expand their access-based offerings.
2. Raising public awareness of the access economy through local events, digital platforms and place-based branding.
3. Helping municipalities develop governance and regulatory conditions that enable local access ecosystems to scale over time.
A central component of the initiative is the development of the “aggregator” – a digital hub that brings together all access-based services in a single online map or platform. This tool will be piloted in seven municipalities, helping residents easily find, understand and make use of rental, borrowing and sharing services available in their area.
The project marks a significant step forward in making access-based services more visible, accessible and widely adopted across the region.
Libraries of Things expand across Catalonia
There are now 16 Libraries of Things (La Biblioteca de les Coses) across the region, including six in Barcelona. These spaces allow residents to borrow household items – most commonly drills, sanders and keyhole saws – helping reduce unnecessary purchases and encouraging more sustainable patterns of use. This expansion demonstrates strong regional interest in practical, cost-saving access models.
Sint-Niklaas launches its final two Digital Kiosks pilot stations
The city of Sint-Niklaas has officially launched the last two pilot sharing stations developed through the EU-funded Digital Kiosks project, allowing citizens to borrow tools, household appliances and leisure items free of charge.
The stations are designed for broad community use, including families, neighbourhood groups, schools, sports clubs, library visitors and second-hand shop patrons. By removing financial barriers, the project aims to support social inclusion while giving residents convenient access to shared goods.
In the short term, the pilot will collect real-world data to optimise service design and future expansion of sharing services across the city. Over the longer term, Sint-Niklaas hopes to raise awareness of how sharing stations and similar access-based models can reshape consumption habits and support sustainability, well-being and circularity goals.
Sweden’s second-hand shopping mall goes viral
ReTuna, the world’s first mall dedicated entirely to second-hand, upcycled and recycled goods, is back in the spotlight. Located in Eskilstuna, Sweden, and opened in 2015, the mall is part of the municipality’s climate and waste-reduction strategy. Recent global media attention shows strong public appetite for alternatives to buying new – especially as consumers seek more affordable and sustainable options.
ReTuna also hosts a popular weekly toy exchange, and there may be future opportunities to integrate item sharing or rental services into its model as demand grows. One to keep an eye on!
EU Circular Economy Act legislative proposal expected later this year
The European Commission is expected to present the full legislative proposal for its Circular Economy Act in Q3 of 2026. Europe’s current circularity rate is around 12%, with a target to double it to 24% by 2030 as part of the Clean Industrial Deal.
The Commission launched a public consultation on the Act in August 2025. We’ll continue monitoring developments closely and sharing implications for access-based services, cities and businesses.
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