Ikea is expanding its sustainability efforts by piloting an online version of its furniture buy-back service. The retailer, which currently provides buy-back options in-store, plans to test the digital platform in Spain and Portugal before the end of December. If the pilot proves successful, the company intends to launch the service in the UK, where it anticipates that pre-owned goods will represent 16% of the homewares market by next year. With Ikea predicting pre-owned goods are likely to grab 16% of the UK homewares market by next year, the online version will extend it to a much wider audience.
This initiative accompanies the UK launch of an Ikea-branded secondhand online marketplace this week. The platform allows members of the company’s loyalty scheme to trade pre-owned items like Kallax shelving and Malm drawer units directly with other local shoppers. To simplify the process, Ikea provides users with pre-filled product descriptions and price recommendations for their listings. At launch, buyers and sellers will arrange collection or delivery directly with one another through the marketplace.
At the outset, the UK marketplace will operate for free, though Ikea plans to implement a “buyer protection fee” of roughly 5% on item prices in the future. Currently, participants are responsible for arranging their own logistics, though the retailer is actively investigating ways to improve delivery convenience. As an incentive for sellers, Ikea offers a 15% bonus on the sale price if they choose to receive payment via an Ikea gift card.
Greg Lucas, sustainability manager for Ikea’s UK and Irish division, noted that secondhand shopping has shifted from a niche activity to a mainstream consumer habit. He stated, “The secondhand market is growing and growing. It is now really significant. The way people furnish their homes has changed. Whether they are moving, redecorating or looking for a particular piece, more customers are considering pre-owned furniture alongside new.”
The market for pre-owned home goods in the UK currently exceeds £4.5bn and is growing at an annual rate of 6.5%. Ikea products are estimated to account for 9% of all furniture traded on secondary markets within the country. Recent consumer data suggests a broader trend: in 2025, 63% of UK shoppers utilized reselling platforms, up from 51% in 2024.
This shift has intensified competition across the retail sector. Major platforms such as Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, and Vinterior are seeing increased activity as resale becomes standard practice. Global fashion trends mirror this, with preloved items now comprising about a tenth of the fashion market, a sector recently underscored by eBay’s $1.2bn purchase of Depop.
Other retailers are also securing positions in the circular economy. Currys and AO have both entered the secondhand space, with the latter acquiring MusicMagpie—a specialist in refurbished electronics and games—in 2024. AO has also recently taken control of the camera retailer Jessops, which operates the Camera Jungle platform for used equipment.
