The insight: UK shoppers will purchase £4.8 billion ($6.1 billion) worth of secondhand products online this year, according to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) commissioned by Amazon. That’s up nearly 12% YoY, as consumers look for ways to shop that are easier on their budgets and the environment.

Eco concerns are secondary: While environmental concerns are a driving force behind the increased rates of secondhand shopping, a primary motivation for most consumers is the opportunity to save money.

• Cost-of-living pressures were the most commonly cited reason for purchasing used goods (31%), followed by increased availability of preowned products (26%) and environmental issues (25%).
• Plenty of consumers also view the circular economy as a money-making opportunity: The Post Office has “seen a surge in demand” from resale shoppers as well as customers looking to “bring in some extra cash by offloading unloved items,” Neill O’Sullivan, managing director of parcels and mails, said in a statement released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
• That’s helped boost the fortunes of offerings like Amazon Resale and Amazon Renewed, as well as of companies like Vinted, which is capitalizing on the surge in demand to expand into categories beyond fashion.

Beyond clothes: 2 in 3 UK shoppers purchased secondhand goods online last year, per the CEBR. While fashion remains the most popular category in the circular economy, other products—including electronics, appliances, and furniture—are gaining traction.

• The proportion of consumers buying or selling secondhand items increased in 7 of the 10 categories tracked by the BRC, with the biggest gains in the furniture category (up 6 percentage points YoY, to 21%) and smaller electronics (up 4 percentage points).
• Secondhand items now make up between 34% and 45% of consumer spending across leading categories such as technology, fashion, and household appliances, according to the CEBR.

Our take: Retailers that lack a robust resale or refurbishment strategy risk losing out. Platforms like Vinted, Depop, and Amazon are meeting rising consumer demand for more sustainable—and affordable—products. Establishing an official program can set new consumer expectations for retail while easing common fears about shopping secondhand, including concerns about item condition and seller trust.

Go further: Read our reports on UK Trends to Watch in 2025 and The State of UK Fashion Ecommerce 2025.