84% of all British adults buy second-hand items, with 55% buying something at least every six months, compared to 75% in 2022, new YouGov polling shows.
New polling undertaken by YouGov, on behalf of UK waste management company, FCC Environment, has found that the main reason for people buying second-hand goods was cost, as 72% of respondents said it was more ‘cost-effective’ than buying new.
The poll, which was launched at this year’s LARAC Conference in Birmingham, also revealed generational differences between people’s buying habits, with younger people more likely to cite sustainability as the main reason for buying second-hand items (46% vs 32%) compared to over-55s.
Despite these differences, overall support for donating and buying second-hand items remained high, with 87% of all respondents stating they donate items to a charity shop of some sort.
While 58% of respondents who do not have a reuse shop at their local household waste and recycling centre stated they would be more likely to deposit second-hand items if it had a reuse shop.
The YouGov poll found that 45% of all respondents indicated that they would prefer to be shown how to fix an item, with electrical items (60%), furniture (48%) and garden items (35%) being the items people would prefer to fix.
Commenting on the findings, FCC Environment’s Reuse Development Manager, Toby Goodwin, said: “Reuse shops play a huge role in the local communities that FCC Environment serves.
“Goods and items that are reused or repaired help reduce the financial burden on the consumer, particularly those who have struggled with the increased cost-of-living in recent years. It is extremely encouraging to see that so many young adult respondents would consider depositing or buying second-hand items at a reuse store.”