eBay cuts seller fees to promote “circular economy for fashion”

This move aims to foster sustainable practices in fashion consumption. 

With the elimination of listing fees, individuals can now sell a wide range of pre-loved fashion items on eBay UK, including those they’ve worn once, multiple times, or even brand-new items with tags still intact. This fee-free selling applies retroactively to existing individual fashion listings, regardless of their initial listing date before 8th April. 

eBay’s has said its decision to waive seller fees aligns with its “commitment to fostering a circular economy for fashion”, where garments are continuously recycled and reused, rather than ending up in landfills.  

Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of global fashion for eBay, commented: “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, we’ll keep more clothes out of landfill as we collectively enable a circular economy for fashion.” 

Research  

This move is supported by recent research from the company revealing that 70% of the population utilises only 50% or less of their wardrobe on a daily basis. Additionally, 92% admit to owning clothing items that “haven’t seen the light of day” in over a year. 

The research also shows that despite the abundance of unused clothing, only a quarter of the population actively sells their unwanted garments.  

According to eBay, this reluctance to part with clothing translates to missed financial opportunities, with the average consumer said to be hoarding over £400 worth of unworn apparel.  

As a result, it’s estimated that the nation is sitting on £16.3 billion worth of clothing that they don’t wear. However, by selling their clothes, customers can contribute to enabling a circular economy for fashion.  

In 2023, through the sale of pre-loved fashion, eBay has reported it has saved over 1.6 million kilograms of waste going to landfill, equivalent to the weight of more than 4 million shirts. 

To find out more about changes in the sector, visit the National Letsrecycle.com Conference on 6 June at QEII Centre in London. To book tickets to attend or for more information please click here.