September, Posti will bring together 11 popular secondhand operators who want to work together to promote more sustainable consumption and emphasize the diversity of the market of previously owned fashion and goods. In Finland, the growth of the secondhand market, worth approximately one billion euros*, is accelerated by the secondhand online marketplaces. The number of secondhand treasures passed through Posti has increased about fivefold in a year, and the pace does not seem to be slowing down.
Secondhand September once again highlights the diversity of the secondhand market and the potential of secondhand as an everyday act of responsibility for consumers. This is the second time the theme month will be organized and the number of partners involved has increased from five to eleven. In addition to Posti, Tori, DNA Vaihtokapula, Kalevala Pidetty, Gugguu, Papu, Marimekko Preloved, Luhta, Huuto.net, Plick, Emmy Clothing and Fonum are participating in the campaign. During September, the campaign partners will offer benefits and discounts, for example, in the form of transportation together with Posti.
"Buying secondhand is an act of responsibility that we can all do. Five times as many secondhand goods bought and sold by Finns have passed through Posti compared to last year. The market is growing at a dizzying pace, but we still want to inspire more and more people to consider whether their next purchase could be bought second-hand or whether there could be unused items in closets for recycling," says Elina Rosenlund from Posti.
Secondhand e-commerce creates a familiar and reliable experience
The e-commerce-like purchase experience and increasingly diverse selection make secondhand shopping even more attractive. At the same time, online marketplaces are introducing smoother and safer ways for payments and deliveries, making the shopping experience equivalent to buying a new product.
"Finns have hoped that buying used goods would be as smooth as buying new ones: add to cart, pay and wait for delivery. ToriDiili, which we launched in the spring, where product payment and delivery take place through us, made this possible. The ease and security have clearly worked, as the reception of ToriDiili has exceeded our expectations. Posti has already delivered 150,000 ToriDeals and sellers have earned more than 5 million euros from the goods sold. Together we will fight against overconsumption and give numerous goods a new life," says Jenni Tuomisto from Tori.
Secondhand is becoming a serious business for an increasing number of companies. Many stores have introduced secondhand selection as part of their online store and even stores, and refurbishing second-hand goods has already become commonplace for companies.
"Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream in the EU. Approximately 2 million new phones are sold annually in Finland alone. Consumers are increasingly aware of the unsustainable situation, but there may be concerns about the quality of previously owned electronics. We understand these concerns and all Vaihtokapula’s phones are inspected, condition-rated and always come with a one-year warranty so you can buy a used one with confidence. We want to make a used phone the most popular phone in the Nordic countries," says Stella Forsskåhl, Business Manager at Vaihtokapula.
"For twenty years now, we as Posti have played an enabling role in the growth of e-commerce. However, we want to shift gears and further increase the growth of secondhand and circular economy. For consumers, a big part of the experience comes from sending and receiving parcels. In this, we play an important role in enabling smooth deliveries, and we continuously strive to improve the consumer experience at all stages of the parcel's journey," Elina Rosenlund continues.
One of the three pillars of Posti's sustainability program is sustainable growth within our planet’s boundaries: we drive the clean transition of logistics. We want to mitigate climate change and work to preserve biodiversity; promote the circular economy and increase our sustainable customer offer; and continuously improve our environmental management.
Secondhand September will take place from September 1 to 30, 2024.
*Finnish Commerce Federation 2023