ERA launches Sustainable Supplier Framework to raise rental industry standards for supplier assessments

Sep 8, 2020 | Press Release

8 September 2020 (Brussels, Belgium) – The European Rental Association (ERA) has launched the Sustainable Supplier Framework to set the industry best practice guidelines and raise common practices for sustainability assessments across the industry.

The new Framework will enable a harmonised and more effective approach to sustainable supplier assessments and be beneficial for both rental companies and their suppliers.

Michel Petitjean, Secretary General of ERA, said: “This common approach will reduce the administrative burden of supplier assessments for rental companies and suppliers, raise standards across the industry and allow rental companies to consider suppliers against a common set of sustainability requirements.

“Furthermore, it will give rental company customers, such as contractors and public procurers, a clear idea of how the rental industry approaches supplier assessments and demonstrate that the industry is committed to responsible business practices and high standards of sustainability.”

Mark Bradshaw, Chair of the ERA Sustainability Committee, said: “The ERA Sustainable Supplier Framework is an important initiative to raise standards of supplier assessments across the rental industry, as well as eliminating the need for repeat assessments.

“As Chair of the ERA Sustainability Committee, I am delighted to see this simple and easy-to-use Framework, which is adaptable to the needs of rental companies and complementary to existing initiatives offered by national associations, being delivered by ERA for the benefit of rental companies and their suppliers.”

The Framework, which was developed by an independent consultant based on interviews with rental companies and suppliers and on relevant international standards, provides a set of minimum requirements and aspirations for sustainability in the areas of:

  • Human rights and working conditions
  • Health and safety
  • Responsible sourcing of components and raw materials
  • Environmental performance
  • Business ethics
  • Product sustainability performance

Rental companies will have the possibility to adopt the Framework as a code of conduct for their suppliers and suppliers will be able to post adherence to the Framework on their websites or submit it directly to rental companies.

An extended version of the Framework is available upon request from ERA, giving rental companies a mechanism for assessing different levels of adherence to the Framework and opening the possibility for them to audit suppliers.

Read more about the Framework and download the relevant documents here.
Download the press release.

 

**ENDS**

About ERA

The European Rental Association was created in 2006 to represent national rental associations and equipment rental companies in Europe. Today, the membership includes over 5,000 rental companies, either directly or through 15 rental associations. ERA is active through its committees in the fields of Promotion, Sustainability, Statistics, Technical and through its Future Group. Extensive information on ERA’s activities, reports, and publications is available on the ERA website at http://www.erarental.org.  

Media Contact

Huw Longton: [email protected], +32 (0)471 58 13 14

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