Goals

Circular Economy

eBay helps millions of consumers and businesses give goods a second life by enabling individuals to sell unused items and providing access to refurbished goods, thereby playing a key role in the circular economy.
Circular economy

For nearly 30 years, eBay has empowered millions of consumers and businesses to give products a second life, helping to drive the transition to a circular economy. 

The first ever item sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer, sold for repair by founder Pierre Omidyar.

By offering a platform where unused items can be sold and access to refurbished goods and spare parts is readily available, eBay promotes sustainability and resource efficiency. Our commitment to reducing waste and extending the lifecycle of products reflects our broader vision for a sustainable future. Here, we present our key recommendations and insights on advancing the circular economy to benefit businesses, consumers, and the planet.

What the sale of pre-owned goods represents on eBay
40%

of eBay’s GMV
i.e. of the total value of the goods
traded on eBay

1.6 million

metric tons of carbon
emissions avoided
by lengthening the lifespan
of products

69,000 tons

of waste avoided through the sale of pre-owned and refurbished goods

What sustainability means for eBay users
cart
Buyers
60%

say buying pre-loved goods has become more important to them.

68%

say sustainability is becoming more important to them every year.

store
Sellers
64%

say it’s easier in recent years to sell pre-loved goods on eBay

79%

got their start on eBay by selling pre-loved goods

Top sustainable categories on eBay
auto parts
car

Auto Parts

eBay empowers certified car recyclers to extract reusable parts from end-of-life vehicles. In addition, with eBay Guaranteed Fit and My Garage, consumers are guaranteed that their eligible automotive part or accessory will fit their vehicle.

Zoom-in of phone
phone

Electronics

eBay helps consumers resell their used electronics to be prepared for reuse by refurbishers. eBay's refurbished business maintains double-digit growth year over year. eBay's Re-Store in Germany gathers used and refurbished products from top brands across over 140 categories, with prices up to 50 percent lower than new and an opportunity to save valuable resources and thus protect the environment.

multiple phones stacked on top of each other
shoe

Fashion

The number of sold clothing, shoes, and accessories with "thrifted" in the description increased on eBay globally by over 400% in March 2024 vs. March 2023. Now, in partnership with Certilogo and Save The Duck, the new Resell on eBay feature is bridging the gap between sellers and buyers seeking authenticated second-hand fashion in a growing resale market.

two people working together
wrench

Home appliances

eBay facilitates access to repair diagnosis, online tutorials, live video professional support, and compatible spare parts search. Its eBay Réparation portal helps extend the lifespan of home appliances, cutting waste and reducing the environmental footprint of manufacturing new items. By offering intuitive diagnostics and an extensive spare parts marketplace, eBay inspires a more sustainable approach to home maintenance.

Our global company footprint
Water consumption

Cubic meters across our global offices

Water consumption
Renewable energy

Used in our offices, data centers and authentication centers

Renewable energy
GHG emission -
Scope 3 Shipping

Metric tons of CO2 emissions Related to the transportation of items purchased on eBay

GHG emission -
Scope 3 Shipping
Recommendations
  1. One-Stop-Shop for Extended Producer Responsibility: Simplifying EPR for European SMEs will help the EU reach its waste reduction goals. 
  2. Adapt Value Added Tax to circular products: Reviewing margin schemes is needed to build a truly scalable VAT framework that incentivises the growth of the European circular economy.
  3. Ensure Digital Product Passports are 2nd-hand friendly: Improving the traceability of products from their design to their end of life will reinforce consumer trust into more sustainable buying options.
  4. Flexible information requirements for pre-owned products: Acknowledging the specificity of the circular value chain where information from the original manufacturer may get lost along the way.
  5. Empower the European independent car recycling industry: Thousands of SMEs are already creating new and more sustainable value from end-of-life vehicles through the trade of recycled and remanufactured car parts.