Trends in Sustainable Retailing

eBay launches a secondhand fashion collection at New York Fashion Week eBay introduced preloved clothing into high-profile by partnering with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and the British Fashion Council, eBay’s "Endless Runway" showcasing preloved items from luxury brands like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. This initiative aims to make secondhand fashion more mainstream, showing that preloved clothing can be just as aspirational as new designer items. The result so far? A 1,600% increase in searches for "pre-loved fashion" and a 7,000% surge in searches for "sustainable fashion". Why does this matter to fashion brands worldwide? The global secondhand market is expanding rapidly as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of overconsumption, with platforms and brands alike working to integrate secondhand fashion into the mainstream. Events like Ebay's runway shows and partnerships such as The Or Foundation's billboard during New York Fashion Week highlight growing concerns about textile waste and promote a shift toward more sustainable consumption. Secondhand September, supported by brands like DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) and The North Face, encourages consumers to embrace pre-loved fashion in both physical and digital stores, aiming to reduce reliance on new material production. Pop culture plays a vital role in making secondhand fashion aspirational, as seen in Ebay's presentation of archival fashion during London Fashion Week, demonstrating how secondhand shopping can be both stylish and sustainable. Consumers, especially younger generations, are more conscious of the fashion industry's ecological footprint, and they increasingly prefer brands that align with their values. For fashion companies, integrating preloved offerings into their business models is not just a sustainable choice—it’s a smart business move that taps into a booming market, while contributing to the solution for fashion’s waste problem. The future of fashion is circular, and the secondhand movement is leading the way. #decarbonisation #fashion #co2emissions Visual: @impact

Blink & you might miss a preloved company becoming more valuable than a luxury behemoth While 2024 proved challenging for the luxury market (with Hermès being the notable exception), recent results from Vinted indicate the secondhand marketplace thrived. Beyond the Lithuanian unicorn's latest funding round that pushed its valuation to €5 billion, their published financial results confirm an exceptional performance. Vinted 2024 Financial Results: Consolidated Revenue: €813.4M Consolidated Revenue Growth: 36% Net Profit: €76.6M Net Profit Growth: 330% Adjusted EBITDA: €158.9M Despite these impressive figures, Vinted still trails luxury giants in profit terms. LVMH leads with €19.6B in profits, followed by Hermès with €4.6B and Kering with €1.1B. Vinted to Luxury Profit Ratio: Vinted vs. LVMH: 1/257 Vinted vs. Hermès: 1/60 Vinted vs. Kering: 1/14 Though Vinted's profitability remains distant from luxury conglomerates, its remarkable growth trajectory suggests it could catch up with industry leaders sooner rather than later. At its current 330% profit growth rate, the preloved marketplace is positioning itself as a formidable player in the fashion ecosystem. Vinted has sought to consolidate its position as a leader in the second hand space through horizontal expansion and investments in Vinted Go (their logistics solution), Vinted Pay (payment system). They're also set to bolster the ecosystem through their new fund: Vinted Ventures

What is the potential of technology to meaningfully reduce fresh food waste, and in doing so significantly alter a grocery retailer’s P&L? Heading into Groceryshop later this month the challenge of escalating shrink is top of many minds. Much focus is understandably on increasing theft and the impacts of organized crime on retailers and their employees. The largest source of loss for many grocery retailers, though, remains fresh food wastage. Fresh food waste can cost up to 3% of total turnover for some grocers, therefore significant reductions here have the potential to transform the economics of grocery stores that run on such wafer-thin margins. And there’s a greater opportunity, as between 40-60% of fresh produce grown globally is wasted. There’s a clear sustainability and moral imperative to do better. Around the world we’re observing a range of technologies emerging that seek to reduce fresh food waste, and which fall into four broad buckets: 1. Dynamic Pricing tools that utilize AI to automate the mark-down price to ensure products sell out before date expiry, like Ahold Delhaize's Albert Heijn chain is trialing in the Netherlands 2. Produce coatings or protective stickers, that utilize natural antimicrobial compounds to protect against disease and extend shelf life, like Apeel, AgroSustain SA or Stixfresh 3. Ordering or inventory management tools powered by AI that optimize order quantities, manage in-store positions or empower store teams to efficiently allocate rescue channels, such as those from Picadeli, Afresh or Smartway.AI 4. Hydroponic vertical farms, located in-store to dramatically shorten the supply chain and respond quickly to changing demand, like SweGreen currently in ICA Gruppen Sweden and now expanding in EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG supermarkets in Germany I’d love to hear your thoughts and other solutions you’re seeing or trialing. Let's chat at Groceryshop!

Luxury loyalty doesn’t start in the flagship anymore. The marble floors. The sales associate who remembers your name. But for Gen Z (and soon Gen Alpha), the first luxury purchase doesn’t happen under a chandelier. It happens on Vestiaire Collective, Depop, The RealReal or TikTok’s #vintage feed with 28.7B views. Loyalty isn’t built in-store anymore. It’s built in the resale tab. The numbers tell the story: ↳ Global secondhand fashion is $190B in 2024, set to reach $422B by 2032 ↳ Luxury resale alone is $43.1B today, projected to hit $95.2B by 2034 ↳ By 2030, a third of all luxury consumers will be Gen Z ↳ 31% of Gen Z buy secondhand, 44% resell ↳ On Depop, 90% of users are under 26 And this shift isn’t just Western. In China, the secondhand luxury market has surged from $8B in 2020 to nearly $30B in 2025, growing five times faster than new luxury. For Gen Z and the middle class, resale is the natural entry point. Resale isn’t a threat to loyalty. Resale is loyalty. The question is: will Maison's meet them there - or wake up to find the next generation already belongs to someone else?

What if your next trip to the supermarket felt more like visiting a farm? 🌱 A Swedish company, SweGreen, is turning this vision into reality by bringing vertical farms directly into supermarkets. Imagine harvesting your lettuce, herbs, or microgreens right in-store—no food miles, no long transport routes, just fresher, more nutritious produce with a drastically lower carbon footprint. How does it work? SweGreen’s innovative hydroponic system grows plants without soil, using rock wool plugs that retain moisture and provide optimal aeration, creating the perfect environment for roots to thrive. These plants are grown under AI-optimized LED lighting, making them incredibly efficient. Even though they use energy, the total carbon emissions are much lower because there’s no need for long-distance transport. 🌍💡 What’s even better? This setup uses 99% less water than traditional farming. Not only are these veggies fresher and packed with more nutrients, but they’re also free from pesticides and herbicides. In fact, a report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that over 90% of leafy greens in traditional stores contain pesticide residues. Of course, this model isn’t meant to replace small independent farms. But for crops with short shelf lives—like lettuce, herbs, and microgreens—it’s a game-changer. 🌿 So here’s the question: Could we see this happening at supermarkets like QMart or RATNADEEP RETAIL PRIVATE LIMITED in India? Our own UrbanKisaan is already leading the charge with hydroponic farms, but supermarket integration could take it to the next level. Could more Indian supermarkets embrace this next-level approach to sustainable farming?🍽️✨ #Sustainability #VerticalFarming #Hydroponics #SweGreen #UrbanKisaan #GreenLiving #ZeroWaste #EcoFriendly #FarmToTable

The second-hand luxury market has evolved from a fragmented, informal channel into a structured and increasingly global component of the industry. What was once concentrated in a few mature markets is now visible across Europe, the United States, and Asia; supported by specialized platforms, curated vintage boutiques, and, more recently, initiatives directly led by brands themselves. This transformation reflects a deeper shift in how luxury is consumed and understood: not as a one-time transaction, but as part of a longer product lifecycle. Clients today engage with luxury in a more fluid way; they buy, keep, resell, and sometimes reacquire; creating a continuous circulation of products that extends far beyond the initial point of sale. For brands, this dynamic provides access to a level of information that traditional retail channels cannot fully capture. The observation of resale prices, frequency of reappearance, and product condition over time offers concrete insights into durability, desirability, and perceived value; elements that can directly inform decisions related to product design, pricing strategy, and client relationship management. At the same time, the second-hand market operates as a real-world assessment of product quality and brand consistency. Pieces are exposed to time, usage, and changing contexts; revealing the true resilience of materials and craftsmanship. In parallel, the expansion of resale increases the importance of authentication and control; brands that choose to engage in this space can strengthen their role as legitimate arbiters of value, while also addressing the persistent issue of counterfeiting through certified processes and controlled channels. Resale also contributes to reinforcing the cultural and symbolic foundations of luxury. The ability of a product to retain relevance over years, or even decades, supports a narrative of continuity that is central to brand legitimacy. By integrating archival pieces, iconic models, and historical references into a structured approach to resale, brands can move beyond a purely seasonal logic; emphasizing the depth of their heritage and the consistency of their identity. This approach aligns with growing expectations around sustainability; not through discounting, but through extending the lifespan and meaning of existing products. In this context, the strategic challenge is not to decide whether to participate in the second-hand market; it is to define how to do so with coherence and control. This involves clear choices in distribution models, pricing architecture, authentication standards, and brand storytelling. This is precisely where I intervene: helping luxury brands structure resale strategies that reinforce brand equity, maintain exclusivity, and transform a complex market dynamic into a source of long-term value and strategic clarity. #LuxuryStrategy #LuxuryResale #BrandEquity #CircularLuxury #ClientExperience

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁. Carousell Group – a Singapore household name since 2012 – started with a single Kindle sold for S$75. Fast forward 13 years: it’s now a unicorn operating across 8+ markets. Last year, Carousell acquired luxury reseller LuxLexicon to expand its premium offerings. And this week, it takes a bold step onto Orchard Road with its first 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙪𝙭𝙪𝙧𝙮 physical store at The Centrepoint. The 1,400 sq ft space is dedicated to pre-loved handbags and accessories. Think Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and YSL. Authentication happens on-site in 10–30 minutes, with a money-back guarantee if a brand flags anything inauthentic. Consignment sellers agree upfront on their net earnings; Carousell takes 25–30% commission to cover marketing and services. Items move quickly—often within 2–4 weeks. Louis Vuitton is the fastest seller, with one in four bags sold. But this isn’t just about one store. It’s proof of a global trend: resale is now mainstream luxury. ❇️ In the U.S., secondhand apparel has hit US$56 billion — already 33% of clothing purchases. ❇️ Europe is preparing for digital product passports to trace origins and authenticity. ❇️ In China, Gen Z’s “No Buy 2025” mood is pushing more towards resale as a smarter, value-driven choice. Luxury brands aren’t watching from the sidelines. They’re building their own resale programmes: ✳️ Gucci Preloved with Vestiaire Collective ✳️ Rolex Certified Pre-Owned ✳️ Cartier / Richemont’s Watchfinder & Co. ✳️ Coach (Re)Loved ✳️ Balenciaga’s trade-in resale scheme When the biggest maisons embrace resale, the message is clear: it’s not a side business; it’s the future. For retailers, the consequence is sharp: they used to fight the competition; now they need to win back the trust of smarter and more conscious customers. Complacency and arrogance don’t help. My advice: Be bold. Be premium. Carousell’s move shows how circularity, transparency, and value are redefining 𝘓𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢. Singapore, with its Orchard Road stage, just became a showcase of that shift. I’ll be unpacking these changes—and what they mean for marketing, branding, and customer trust—in my upcoming 𝙇𝙪𝙭𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 at SMU Academy this October and November. Join me if you want to understand where Asia’s luxury market is heading and how to stay ahead of the next wave of consumer expectations. #luxuryinasia #luxelink I’m Matthias Weiskopf. I teach and talk about 𝘓𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢—with a focus on customer-centric strategies, brand storytelling, and sales and marketing excellence. 

In Germany, supermarkets and drugstores are introducing refill stations and vending-style machines for shampoo and shower gels. Instead of purchasing a new plastic bottle each time, customers can bring back their old bottles to refill them. This eco-friendly initiative helps reduce single-use plastic waste, promotes a circular economy, and encourages sustainable shopping habits. Though still in pilot stages and not yet available everywhere, it's a big step toward greener everyday living.

Resale is going to overtake primary fashion. Or it won't. The honest answer is: it depends on assumptions. When, if ever, could secondhand could be larger than the primary market? This came up in a great conversation I was having with Patrick Sutton, so I thought I'd actually run some numbers. Where we are today: → Primary apparel: ~$1.9T in 2026, growing 3.65% (Fortune Business Insights) → Resale: $257B in 2025, projected at $393B by 2030 — 9% CAGR (ThredUp) → Recent Y/Y growth: ~13% US Project the lines forward at constant rates: • 9% pace → crossover ~2064 • 13% pace → crossover ~2048 • A 2037 crossover needs ~22% sustained CAGR The bull case for sustained acceleration is real: → Cannibalisation is now measurable. ThredUp's 2026 report shows US resale grew 13% in 2025 at nearly 4x the primary market's 3.6%. 34% of consumer clothing spend now goes to secondhand. 46% of consumers browse resale before buying new (58% of Gen Z). → Brand-led resale is growing and becoming a default infrastructure: H&M, New Balance, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, The North Face, the list is no longer niche. → Emerging markets are running hotter than the global average. India's resale market is growing at ~13–14% CAGR. APAC accounts for ~50% of global secondhand growth. The headline 9% number is dragged down by mature markets, not capped by them. → The supply side is bigger than people think. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation pegs underutilised clothing value at ~$500B/year. Depop estimates the average closet holds ~$400 in untapped resale value. And critically, 52% of Gen Z and Millennials now actively try to resell more than half their wardrobe. Supply could scale with this demand, not against it. But constant CAGR over 25+ years still breaks. Real markets follow S-curves. Take rates compress. We will likely see the curve flatten one day. Curious as to when and why people think this will this happen? What are the bottlenecks? What do you think the realistic ceiling is? Will the resale market overtake primary fashion one day?

While much of the AI conversation is focused on chatbots, the real-world impact is happening in the trash room. Mill is proving that computer vision and data can turn a grocery store’s biggest cost into a valuable feedstock. Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund is investing in Mill to bring their AI-powered food recycling technology to Whole Foods Market Foods stores. By 2027, back-of-house fruit and vegetable scraps will be dehydrated and transformed into nutrient-rich chicken feed for the grocer’s own egg suppliers. --> This is important to call out, as keeping nutrients as feed rather than going directly to composting is higher on the waste hierarchy (think "reusing" food rather than "recycling" it into compost) Why this matters for the future of retail: 🟢 This technology utilizes an advanced dehydration process to shrink food waste volume by up to 80%. This dramatically reduces the carbon footprint associated with heavy waste hauling. 🟢 The integration of real-time AI allows stores to characterize exactly what is being tossed. This provides the data needed to adjust inventory and prevent over-ordering before waste even happens. 🟢 By turning scraps into chicken feed for their own egg producers, Whole Foods is moving beyond simple disposal to create a truly closed-loop supply chain. While I have become an advocate for the scaled benefits of commercial and home composting, seeing this kind of distributed infrastructure move into the grocery aisle is a massive step toward making waste an obsolete concept. Excited to see how this pilot scales! Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eBMZgPa3 #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #FoodWaste #AI #ClimateTech #WholeFoods #Mill #Innovation