Almost two-thirds (58%) of UK shoppers find shopping for second-hand as or more exciting than buying new, while one in four (28%) of them find that it is helping relieve their eco-anxiety.
Data from Shopiago, part of World of Books Group, reveals that 54% of adults now experience eco-anxiety – not to mention worries about rising prices and inflation.
According to the study, consumers are now waking up to the threefold benefits of the circular economy, championed by Shopiago. When asked the multiple reasons why people have started second-hand shopping, of those surveyed, 65% said to help them become more sustainable. 79% also said it helped them to save money, and an additional 37% loved the feeling of supporting good causes.
With 58% still getting the ‘shopping buzz’ as a result of sustainable shopping practices, opportunities for the charity retail sector to capitalise on changing attitudes towards second-hand shopping to maximise funds continue to grow. In total, Shopiago has raised over £55 million for organisations including, the British Heart Foundation, St. Peter’s Hospice and DEBRA UK. By choosing second-hand over new purchases to embrace the circular economy, UK consumers can reduce their carbon footprint, support a wealth of worthy UK causes and experience the thrill of discovering hidden preloved treasures for a great bargain all at the same time.
Thom Bryan, Business Development Director at Shopiago, comments: “Shopping sustainably can often save money as well, and the nation is beginning to cotton onto all that the online charity retail sector has to offer here. With the cost-of-living crisis and rising environmental concerns at the forefront of the consumer’s mind, conscientious shoppers can now access affordable clothing, books, media and much more by shopping second-hand – reducing their environmental footprint, saving pennies, and contributing to a worthy cause all at once.
“The rise of second-hand shopping gives charities more opportunities to maximise fundraising efforts, catalysing a shift towards increased online resale operations that expand reach to more consumers on the hunt for their next environmentally-conscious bargain – and ultimately providing a more stable and consistent means of income to charities UK-wide.”
