eBay has launched the “Better Than New Homeware” Hub to encourage consumers to adopt sustainable options for their homes. The new hub offers vintage, refurbished, and repaired pieces that can help shoppers save money and be environmentally friendly as well.
This initiative comes after eBay UK’s new research found that the average person seeks to update their home approximately three times per year. 14% of those surveyed said they have been buying more second-hand furniture than they did so two years ago. The research highlighted that pre-loved home and garden purchases on eBay over the past year saved 6.5 million kg of waste going to landfills as more shoppers turned to second-hand products.
It revealed that saving money was the main reason the participants bought second-hand furniture, while 37% do it for environmental reasons and 35% find second-hand furniture to be more unique.
Rachel Miles, eBay UK head of home and garden, said they are turning their attention to helping slow down fast furniture in a similar vein to the way the company celebrated pre-loved fashion through its partnership with Love Island. Moreover, eBay is demonstrating the style, value, and environmental benefits of second-hand furniture and home accessories available on the platform.
“This new hub places a much-needed spotlight on the impact fast furniture is having on our planet and showing shoppers there’s a better way to refresh the home without creating more waste. Customers will be able to find a wonderful assortment of items from sofas to lighting with lots of character that support the fight against fast furniture and correct existing perceptions around affordability.”
eBay added that choosing pre-loved items allows everyone to save money on fashionable furniture and contributes to the reduction of fast furniture’s impact, lessening the 22 million pieces of furniture ending up in landfills annually. Furthermore, the platform has partnered with Lisa Dawson, an interior specialist and author of Resourceful Living, to inspire and encourage more individuals to adopt pre-loved items and join the fight against furniture waste.
Dawson believes using eBay as a first stop when adding to your space is a more sustainable move. “The recycling of interiors, buying less, and buying carefully is an all-round winner, limiting landfill and being kinder to both the environment and, ultimately, to our pockets.
