With national Keep Australian Beautiful Week in full swing, Gumtree reveals that more and more Aussies are looking to second hand as a way of reducing their environmental footprint.
Research by Gumtree shows that people are increasingly environmentally minded, with two in three (66%) Australians seeing a key benefit of buying and selling items second hand being to reduce waste or recycle useful items. Australians are now more aware than ever that any time they give unwanted items another lease of life, they’re actively reducing waste from going to landfill.
Australians believe the top three benefits of buying and selling items second hand are:
- Lower prices/saving money (72%)
- Reduced waste by recycling useful items (66%)
- The ability to cash in and make money (53%)
Understanding the value of second hand
However, 50% of Australians admit to also throwing unwanted items in the bin. Money expert and SugaMammaTV founder, Canna Campbell, says this amounts to an incredible missed opportunity, since Australians have the most unwanted items per household (25 on average), compared to 23 in Canada, 22 in the UK and 21 in Germany.
In addition to the environmental benefits of buying and selling second hand, Campbell says that it provides countess “opportunities to make extra income – that can help offset increased living costs, pay off debt or save towards a home deposit or holiday.”
Education on the second hand economy
For those who are not buying or selling second hand items, they claim this is due to being time poor (37%), or uncertain about what items in their household are worthwhile selling (34%). The number one tool that would give savvy Australians confidence to buy and sell is a step-by-step guide (39%).
