How to switch to sustainable irrigation? Rain's commitment to sustainability

What is meant by sustainability?

Sustainability is an issue that has topped the agendas of major intergovernmental organisations around the world for decades now. In recent years, however, and especially with the advent of the new millennium, this topic has become increasingly of interest, stirring the conscience of society as a whole. Unwilling to wait for more concrete and incisive actions from the ruling classes, society has taken action to bring about visible change on its own. There are now numerous civil movements that educate people to respect the planet, from waste collection associations to those that invite citizens to adopt plants until spring to shelter them from winter frost, passing through shared communal gardens.
But what does the term sustainability really mean? Various definitions and applications can be found in publications, but in essence, sustainability means the intelligent use of renewable resources. This is why making the most of the natural resources our planet offers us, without damaging or compromising them, is a big step forward for contemporary society. A step that Rain is committed to taking on a daily basis.

Is sustainable irrigation possible?

In today’s delicate context, punctuated by sudden climate changes and frequent natural disasters, a necessary question arises: what is the role of irrigation in all this? Well, we argue that irrigation plays a fundamental role in coping with these changes. Firstly, because of the primary resource that is used, i.e. water; then, cascadingly, because of all the aspects involved in irrigation: type of materials, electricity to operate the system, how irrigation is carried out, and many others. It may be trivial or obvious to some, but the first step towards more sustainable irrigation that everyone can take is to switch from manual to automatic irrigation. Installing an automatic irrigation system, in fact, allows you to choose, in advance, the correct amount of water and how to deliver it, resulting in significant water savings, as well as time and budget savings, for both the professional and the private garden homeowner.

From production to finished product: Rain’s commitment to sustainability

We at Rain have always been at the forefront of playing our part in ensuring that the irrigation sector moves more and more in the direction of sustainability.
This commitment starts in our factories: the roof of our warehouse is already covered with solar panels and our intention for the next few years is to extend the project to our offices and production department also.
Over the years we have also made improvements to the production phase itself, from investing in machinery capable of 100% recovery of plastic waste to optimising the production process through the use of renewable sources. In fact, 60% of the energy used in Rain is of sustainable origin and our goal for the next five years is to decrease energy consumption per unit of product by 20%.
Beyond corporate initiatives, however, it remains essential to extend our contribution to our product offering as well, so that the irrigation world offers both professionals and private individuals a complete range of products that enable more sustainable irrigation
From this objective came the desire to develop and produce our Vision™ Intelligent Irrigation System [link to Vision page], with the aim of optimising a whole series of resources, primarily water, and enabling our customers to make a sustainable choice through the conscious use of primary energy sources.

Irrigation of the future is connected and sustainable, with Vision™

Today, we make Vision products using up to 75% recycled plastics, yet this is only one of the great qualities the system offers in the area of sustainability. Vision, in fact, means above all:
·       Rechargeable and autonomous products
Pure Vision and Amico Vision are equipped with rechargeable lithium batteries, thanks to which it has been possible to reduce the spread of environmentally harmful alkaline batteries. By the beginning of 2023, the number of exhaustible batteries, eliminated in just two years by Rain, had reached 85,000!
·       Green Recharge
The Vision system currently consists of three charging methods: a USB cable, which is always included in the package, the Luce Vision Solar Panel and the Vision hydro-energy Turbine. Energy sources such as the sun and water, from the irrigation system itself, are as valuable as they are efficient: why not make good use of them?

·       Remote management 

With this methodology it is possible to intervene on irrigation scheduling, with both direct benefits, such as the absence of anomalies and unnecessary irrigation cycles, and indirect benefits eliminating unnecessary on-site visits. In a nutshell: zero water waste and reduced pollution thanks to reduced car travel!

The sustainable garden: a team effort

It is important to emphasise that the contribution to greater sustainability and better use of renewable resources also depends on green professionals and their customers. By providing products that can guarantee the same irrigation performance while using clean energy without wasting it, Rain puts forward a call for sustainability to all those who, through their choices and consideration, can support this very important cause. Together, we can take a small, big step forward to help respect the environment and leave future generations a healthier, greener planet, just like our own gardens.