How to sell for a sustainable future

Part of eBay’s DNA, the circularity movement - or the practice of encouraging reusing, recycling, or sustainability in consumption and manufacturing - has been rising on shopper’s agendas in recent years.

According to the Deloitte Retail Trends 2022 this year it’s set to soar, as the second-hand clothing sector is on track to grow quicker than the fast fashion industry. Indeed, in the UK at eBay we’ve seen searches for ‘pre-loved clothes’ rise by 890% over the last year*, and our 2022 Recommerce Report also found that almost half (42%) of our eBay.co.uk buyers said sustainability was their main concern when choosing not to purchase new items**.

How can sellers meet this rising demand to go beyond paying lip service to sustainability, and begin to implement sustainable practices within their businesses? Here are some tips to consider as a starter for ten when looking to be more sustainable with your selling.

Make the most of your imperfect stock

Gone are the days when consumers were only willing to part with their pennies for the newest, freshest items - we’ve now entered an era where demand for refurbished or even imperfect items is growing. A refurbished item is sold every ten seconds on eBay.co.uk, and two preloved items were rehomed every ten seconds last year***.

To encourage participation in the circular economy, sellers have the option to list on eBay any damaged or imperfect stock as ‘new with defects’. This means sellers aren’t forced to send any item that doesn’t make the cut to landfill - instead, they can sell them on and continue to make profit whilst knowing they’re being more sustainable in their practices.

Consider your postage and packaging choices

The day-to-day running of businesses can often contain many unsustainable practices hiding in plain sight - from the non-recyclable things used to package and send products, to the paper used to print labels. One of the easiest ways business owners can improve their sustainability credentials is by not using these products which harm the planet in the first place.

Switching single-use plastic packaging for sustainable alternatives made from recycled materials, for example, is one way small businesses can do their bit. You can also use recycled paper for label printing, or turn single-use into no-use by keeping printing for business admin to a minimum to begin with.

When packing your item, remember to choose a package appropriate for your item’s size, excessive sized boxes cause additional waste.

Lastly, make sure you offer greener options for delivery. Some carriers offer hybrid or electric vehicles - or for those in close proximity, bicycles.

Calculate your carbon footprint

Understanding your business’ carbon footprint and taking actionable steps to reduce it is swiftly becoming a necessity for any and all business owners. Whilst it may seem like a daunting prospect to begin with, tracking the footprint of your business through carbon accounting has never been easier.

For example, organisations like Carbon Trust have an online Carbon Footprint Calculator which can take carbon management out of your hands by showing you what emissions your business is producing, as well as encouraging you to think about the way this can be reduced.

Reduce returns

Returns mean additional carbon use, so to minimise returns where possible, make sure to include as much detail about the product as possible. By using extremely detailed product descriptions, including multiple photos from all angles and including photos of any defects - there is a higher chance a buyer will be satisfied with their purchase and not return the item. Click here for more information on making a great listing.

Think product lifecycle

To assess how sustainable your products are, make sure you investigate your product’s full lifecycle. Ask your suppliers where their materials are sourced, how the items are made, how much energy is consumed and what sources of energy they use. The more knowledge about this the better, as this will help you make sustainable choices going forwards.

Lastly, make sure you give as much information to how the life of your products can be prolonged. By educating customers on how to care for, clean, re-use or recycle your products and packaging will help reduce over-consumption.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to find out how to make your business more sustainable, check out our People & Planet Hub and eBay Academy for more help and advice. What steps have you taken to green-up your business? Comment your thoughts and tips below!

* From 1 Jan - 27 March 2022 vs same dates in 2021

** Data gathered 7 - 19 Oct 2021, from eBay’s Recommerce report

*** all items are refurbished and sold within eBay.co.ukbetween 1 Jan- 31 Dec 2021