New research from Amazon has revealed that two-thirds of Brits bought second-hand goods online in 2024, saving £5.6 billion, while keeping 199 million products in circulation.
The research, carried out by Centre for Economics Business Research (CEBR) and commissioned by Amazon, included a survey of 10,000 adults across Europe which revealed that increasing cost-of-living pressures, wider availability of pre-owned products and heightened consideration of environmental issues among shoppers all played a factor.
The study reveals second-hand products now account for 34%-45% of UK spending. Top second-hand categories were clothing (54%), smartphone/tablets (26%) and small household appliances (24%).
Britain’s second-hand shopping boom has also seen average monthly spending on pre-loved goods more than double over five years, climbing 113% from £58.40 to £124.80 a month.
According to the report, pre-owned online shopping is now worth £4.3 billion a year in the UK. What’s more, 59% of Brits say they are more likely to purchase second-hand goods online in 2025.
Another key taking from the report reveals an evolving market from a demographic perspective, with 74% of people aged 34 and under embracing second-hand shopping compared to 52% of over-55s.
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager, said: “At Amazon, we believe that putting returned items back on sale isn’t just good for the planet and for business – it’s what our customers want.
“Our Second Chance sales in the UK and across Europe, including from Amazon Resale and Amazon Renewed, exceeded €2 billion (£1.7 billion) in 2024, as we have expanded our used product selection.
“It’s clear that providing trustworthy, convenient access to quality, pre-owned items is resonating with today’s more conscious customers.”
Sam Littlejohn, Amazon’s Head of Returns and Repairs, added: “Britons are turning to second-hand shopping in large numbers, but to supercharge the sector’s growth, customers need to trust buying a used product as much as buying new.
“The Amazon Resale team works hands-on to inspect and refurbish every item, delivering a reliable experience backed by Amazon’s customer service and return policies.”
Main image credit: Charity Super.Mkt