TORONTO – A report released Tuesday by online classified service Kijiji found that Canadians spend almost $30 billion a year on used goods.
Conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto and Montreal’s Observatoire de la Consommation Responsable, the Second-Hand Economy Index also found that nearly $34 billion is put back into the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from people shopping for used products, by moving money away from items that would normally be imported.
Job creation and a reduction in waste were also found to be benefits of the second-hand market, the report discovered.
“What the research revealed is that the second-hand economy creates a significant win-win-win situation by helping families, the country and the environment,” said Scott Neil, Director of Vertical Business at Kijiji Canada.
A second life will be given to an average of 76 products a year per Canadian, according to the report, with a family of four saving approximately $1,150 a year by shopping for used items.
Canadians shop the most for used clothing, shoes, fashion accessories, baby items, and entertainment products, such as books and DVDs.
“By making products last longer, and getting more out of them, consumers can maintain a high standard of living while staying within the bounds of environmental sustainability,” said Peter Spiro, Executive Fellow of the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation at the University of Toronto and one of the authors of the report.
The Prairies and Alberta score the highest when it comes to second-hand practices, with an average of 115 and 106 used products, respectively, being purchased by the average person a year. Quebec scores the lowest with an average of 50 used products per person being purchased a year.
The most common reason people said they shop for used goods was to save money (75 per cent), followed by ecological benefits (65 per cent) and treasure-hunting (58 per cent).
Reasons for offering used products for sale or free include ease of disposal (73 per cent), doing good for others (65 per cent), ecological benefits (62 per cent) and making money (57 per cent).
The report was based on results from a survey of 2003 online respondents that represent the Canadian population. To read the full report, click here.
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