In a bid to reduce clothing waste and promote sustainability, eBay has announced that it will no longer charge fees for individuals selling pre-owned clothing on its platform. This move comes as part of the company’s efforts to keep unwanted clothing out of landfills and encourage a more circular economy for fashion.
Effective as of Monday, individuals can now sell all second-hand clothing items for free on eBay, including brand new items with tags that have never been worn. This change applies to both new listings and existing individual fashion listings, regardless of when they were listed.
While seller fees will still apply to items such as trainers, watches, handbags, and jewelry, the elimination of fees for clothing is a significant step towards reducing waste in the fashion industry. A recent survey conducted by eBay revealed that a staggering 70% of Britons wear only half or less of their wardrobe on a daily basis, with 92% of consumers admitting to owning clothing they haven’t worn in the past year.
Despite this, only 25% of people actually sell their unwanted clothes, leaving many with closets full of unused garments. On average, consumers hold onto over £400 worth of clothing that goes unworn, contributing to the growing issue of textile waste.
To make the selling process easier and more efficient, eBay has introduced AI-generated item descriptions for all UK sellers. This feature provides sellers with attention-grabbing descriptions for their listings, reducing the time and effort required to list an item for sale.
In addition to these changes, eBay Live, an interactive livestream shopping experience, will be piloted in the UK in the coming weeks. This feature allows users to participate in live auctions, shop for exclusive deals, and make purchases in real time. Originally launched in the US in 2022, eBay Live has been successful in engaging users and driving sales.
Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of global fashion for eBay, emphasized the importance of promoting the buying and selling of pre-owned clothing to create a more sustainable fashion industry. She stated, “Free fashion selling has come at the right time for a nation sitting on billions of pounds worth of unwanted clothes. We know selling clothes can sometimes feel like a chore, so free selling and new updates like new AI-powered listings will help more of us to sell clothes easily, putting more cash in pockets.”
By encouraging more people to buy and sell pre-loved clothing, eBay aims to keep more clothes out of landfills and contribute to a more sustainable fashion ecosystem. Last year alone, eBay claims to have saved over 1,600,000 kg of waste from going to landfill through the sale of second-hand clothing.
In conclusion, eBay’s decision to waive fees for selling pre-owned clothing, along with the introduction of new features like AI-generated item descriptions and eBay Live, marks a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and circular economy for fashion. By empowering individuals to sell their unwanted clothing easily and efficiently, eBay is helping to reduce waste and promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fashion consumption.