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In January 2026, a survey was conducted to provide an in-depth insight into the attitudes and habits of Latvian residents regarding the rental of goods. The results highlight the market potential and opportunities for businesses to develop rental services in Latvia. The survey data make it possible to better understand consumer needs and tailor services to the habits and requirements of different population groups.

The results of the January 2026 study conducted by the association “Zero Waste Latvija” show that there is public interest in opportunities to rent goods, and a significant share of the population uses such services regularly. The findings indicate that increasing public awareness and improving the accessibility of services should be among the key priorities for developing and promoting rental services in Latvia.

As in 2023, the average rating of opportunities to rent goods reached 6.3 points, which can be considered rather positive on a 10-point scale. The study results suggest that, by increasing public awareness and improving service accessibility, rental services have good market prospects.

Over the past two years, 42% of surveyed Latvian residents have rented or hired items for a fee or received items for temporary use free of charge. It should be noted that, compared with the results of the previous survey conducted at the end of 2023, the use of rental and hire services has decreased slightly this year — by 5 percentage points compared with November 2023.

Figure: Experience with renting goods. Source: “Latvijas Fakti”. The infographic is available in Latvian only.

The survey results on the use of rental or hire services over the past two years, compared with the 2023 data, indicate that the situation has remained relatively unchanged. 7% of surveyed Latvian residents had used such services once (-2 percentage points compared with 2023), while 13% had rented or hired items for a fee or received them for temporary use free of charge 10 or more times (-1 percentage point compared with 2023).

The survey was conducted in January 2026 by the research centre “Latvijas Fakti”.

To promote the circulation and longer use of goods, the association “Zero Waste Latvija”, together with its partners - Ltd “ZAAO”, the association “Zaļā brīvība”, Ltd “CleanR” and Ltd “Eco Baltia VIDE” - has developed the digital platform Lietovelreiz.lv, which aims to extend the lifespan and use of products. The platform brings together information on repair services, product rental, exchange and other circular services available throughout Latvia.

The Lietovelreiz.lv platform is part of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste To Resources Latvia – Boosting Regional Sustainability and Circularity through Introducing the Waste as Resources Concept” (LIFE Waste To Resources IP, LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014), implemented with financial support from the European Union’s LIFE Programme and the State Regional Development Agency.