2024-03-20 08:44:00
The e-commerce ecosystem is experiencing a major change, and is pivoting towards the adoption of more sustainable practices. Decryption.
What if, more than a trend, second hand constituted the first building block of a truly circular economy? This is the question that implicitly animated the discussions during a webinar hosted by Guillaume Ledit, editorial director of L’ADN, with Alice Vachet, CSR expert, Francis Barel general manager of PayPal France, and Marc Lolivier, general delegate of the e-commerce and distance selling Federation (Fevad).
The conversation opened with an observation: French consumers, driven by growing ecological awareness and strong economic constraints, are turning more and more to the second-hand market. So much so that the sector is now estimated at 150 billion euros. These changes in behavior are reinforced by the rise of online platforms facilitating transactions in second-hand items, reflecting a profound evolution in consumption patterns.
End of the world and end of the month
The reasons for this enthusiasm are multiple: the desire to spend less, of course, but also particular attention to the environmental impact of purchases. Concerns regarding the end of the world then join with end-of-month budgetary concerns, as Francis Barel notes. Second hand, once marginal, is therefore becoming a vector of savings and social responsibility. Marc Lolivier thus underlines that the sector already represents 11% of e-commerce purchases in France, a sign of a booming market.
Alice Vachet notes for her part that the expectations of consumers looking for a sustainable lifestyle are often met by online services. Online commerce therefore has a central role to play in the promotion of second-hand goods, in particular by enabling secure transactions.
Switch from first to second
Companies, faced with these changes, are exploring different strategies to integrate second-hand goods into their business models. The example of large players like the SEB group, which combines the sale of new products and repair services, illustrates this trend. However, the challenge remains to avoid the rebound effect, and to promote this practice without encouraging overconsumption.
Overconsumption potentially facilitated by the deployment of artificial intelligence tools, a lever to boost the second-hand market by personalizing the customer experience and promoting second-hand products.
But then, how can we move on to the second and begin the transition to the circular economy? Our experts advise you to do your homework, then establish a diagnosis of your supply chain before establishing a strategy. This can involve collaboration with already established players, which will ultimately allow the implementation of innovative business models. But whatever options you choose, the main thing remains to communicate transparently with your customers, without forgetting the progress that remains to be made!
No one can predict the future of consumption, but according to our experts it must become responsible and less intensive. A paradigm shift in which second-hand will play a driving role, not only as an economic lever but also as a vector of societal change.
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