For 25 years, eBay has enabled millions of consumers and businesses to give a second life to goods. Whether through individuals selling items online that they no longer need, or by facilitating online access to spare parts for repair, eBay can be considered a key player in the circular economy.
As we collectively take conscience of the climate challenge ahead, consumers move towards more sustainable online shopping options. According to eBay data, the number of search queries for "sustainable" and "environmentally friendly" offers has increased by almost 100 percent from 2018 to 2019.
During the economic recovery from Covid-19, European SMEs will have a great interest and opportunity in responding to the ever-growing demand for second-hand, refurbished, repurposed, ecodesigned or repairable goods. The ability for them to count on a stable, protective and clear legal framework in this context will be crucial.
In 2019, the European Union adopted the “New Deal for Consumers”, an ambitious reform to improve trust and transparency for consumers in the Digital Single Market era. While this legislation has yet to be implemented in many Member States, some measures, included either directly in consumer law or in other parts of legislation may help foster a larger supply in sustainable options for consumers, as well as more consumer trust in these options.