Global luxury e-commerce platform Farfetch has launched a consumer-facing sustainable fashion tool that helps shoppers understand the environmental impact of the items they are about to purchase, as well as the environmental benefits of choosing secondhand and more eco-friendly materials. The feature is now live on its official website and is part of the platform's ongoing sustainability strategy.

Key Points

  • Farfetch partnered with QSA, ICARO, and the London Waste and Recycling Board to conduct research examining the growth of the secondhand market in the UK, US, and China.
  • Among 3,000 surveyed consumers, 51% of items in US consumers' wardrobes were secondhand, compared with 42% in the UK and 21% in China.
  • The research shows that buying a secondhand item reduces new purchases by an average of about 57%, equivalent to saving 1 kilogram of waste, 3,040 liters of water, and 22 kilograms of CO2.

What the Research Revealed

Commissioned by Farfetch and conducted with QSA, ICARO, and the London Waste and Recycling Board, the study quantified the average environmental footprint of fashion items (carbon emissions, water consumption, and waste) and assessed the extent to which secondhand goods replace new-season purchases.

Data shows that secondhand buyers in the US and UK purchase more apparel items, while Chinese consumers are more inclined to buy footwear, jewelry, and watches. In terms of average spending per secondhand item, Chinese consumers spent $88, compared with $59 in the US and $47 in the UK, the lowest among the three countries.

Motivations for Secondhand Shopping

The research identified four main reasons consumers buy secondhand goods: better prices, rare styles, environmental considerations, and past purchasing experiences. At the same time, buying secondhand fashion products led about 57% of consumers to stop buying brand-new items.

In terms of environmental benefits, the study's estimates show that each average secondhand purchase reduces 1 kilogram of waste and saves 3,040 liters of water and 22 kilograms of CO2.

Farfetch said the feature is intended to let consumers consider materials that can reduce environmental impact before purchasing and to understand feasible ways to protect the environment. For secondhand trading platforms and circular fashion practitioners, this data provides a reference for the environmental value of secondhand consumption replacing new goods, and also shows clear differences in category preferences and average order values across different markets.

Source: 파페치, 소비자의 ‘지속가능한 패션’을 위한 툴 공개 · Originally published on 2026-09-30