The latest news and updates from the access economy, and how item renting and sharing became that little bit easier in August 2026.
New research confirms Europe’s underutilisation problem
A new study from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht provides fresh evidence on the scale of underutilised household goods.
The research surveyed 1,303 households across six European cities to understand ownership patterns, product use and attitudes towards sharing. It found that items such as hand sanders, pressure washers and table tennis paddles are among the most underused products.
Importantly, the study also found that underutilisation is not limited to particular socioeconomic groups: usage patterns were broadly similar across different groups. At the same time, awareness of sharing and rental services is already surprisingly high, suggesting that the challenge is less about awareness and more about turning interest into participation.
Amazon and other giants join the resale movement
Resale and trade-in services continue moving into the mainstream, with Amazon and major brands including Zara, H&M, Levi’s and Lululemon having recently expanded their offering. Whether these initiatives are driven by business considerations or concerns around sustainability, they represent an important shift towards keeping products in circulation for longer.
A deeper approach to feedback doubles sharing station use
The team behind Barcelona’s Compartiment Sharing Station found that improving a sharing service requires more than asking users whether they like it. By going beyond surface-level feedback and speaking in depth with both users and non-users, the team uncovered practical barriers linked to the catalogue, communication and user experience. The insights helped reshape the service, and the number of borrowed items doubled as a result.
Two online sessions explore new insights on circular living
The CDCUL will share new findings on consumer demand for shared-access residential spaces and how better use of existing resources can support circular living.
The team will present its findings during two online sessions in September:
- Circularity in Nordic Cities – 18 September
- CDCUL results webinar – 28 September
Access Economy Alliance reaches 700+ followers
The Access Economy Alliance LinkedIn page reached 700 followers in August. Spread across 33 countries and 6 continents, our growing community is a powerful sign of the increasing momentum behind rental and sharing services. Thank you to everyone for following us along on this journey!
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