Research shows Scots are switching to second hand buying in effort to save environment

Second hand sales are on the rise in Scotland.

Scots shopping habits are switching to second hand items as they seek out value and look to save the planet.

That’s according to a recent survey commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland and Revolve, Scotland’s re-use quality standard scheme, which showed almost half of Scots believe shopping second hand is important to save the environment.

In the same survey, nearly half of Scots (45%) said if they can be assured of the quality, safety and cleanliness of goods, they are more likely to shop for pre-used items.

With many consumers seeking more sustainable lifestyles, Zero Waste Scotland is urging shoppers to look for the Revolve logo as a store’s guarantee of quality.

Revolve is the national certification scheme for second hand stores in Scotland which guarantees its customers high quality products, conforming to safety standards, as well as offering good value for money. The scheme applies a rigorous quality assurance process to approved stores ensuring highest product quality and safety.

The most recent data shows annual sales across the network of £33.4m, with average sales income across a sample of the longest certified stores doubling in four years.

Currently, there are over 120 Revolve certified nationwide offering a wide range of pre-loved items from clothes and furniture to white goods and bikes.

Iain Gulland, chief executive at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Second hand doesn’t have to mean second best, Revolve certified stores offer quality pre-loved pieces where customers can be confident that they are buying quality goods from a trusted source.

“It’s great to see perceptions of second hand are being viewed more positively, however there’s still a way to go in reassuring shoppers on the quality, reliability and professionalism when shopping second hand verses buying new.

“We encourage shoppers to think second hand first and look for the Revolve logo for reassurance they’re going to save money and find great quality items in store.”

Whilst 32% of Scottish shoppers have bought second-hand clothing, or furniture, it tends to be smaller items such as CDs, DVDs and vinyl proving most popular (39%) and only 15% of Scottish shoppers have never considered purchasing an item second hand before purchasing new.

For further details and to find your local Revolve store visit www.revolvereuse.com