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Aoteroa Circular Economy Report 2025
Trade Me's Circular Economy Report reveals Kiwis' shift to buying and selling secondhand items.
4 March 2025
Since 2019, we’ve been tracking the journey into the circular economy in Aotearoa, and things have only gotten better (and greener) since then. With buzzwords like biodegradable, carbon footprint, and greenwashing flying around, it can feel like you need a dictionary just to keep up.
According to the Ministry for the Environment, a circular economy, or ōhanga āmiomio means “keeping resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them, and then recovering and regenerating their products and materials at the end of their life.”
Key highlights from the report:
Our latest report shows that the circular economy in Aotearoa could be worth up to $5.5 billion. Every Kiwi household is sitting on an average of 20 preloved items, which could net around $1,350. That’s a tidy sum that might just cover a cheeky holiday, clear some debt, or a special treat.
- 89% of Kiwi have snapped up something secondhand in the past six months, a clear sign that the love for preloved treasures isn’t fading
- There are roughly 81 million items tucked away in Kiwi households, which is 3 million more than last year.
- When it comes to buying preloved, 77% of respondents say its all about saving money, alongside the perks of being eco-friendly, finding higher quality items, and unearthing unique finds.
Why are Kiwi selling their preloved goods?
Despite the pinch of rising living costs, Kiwi remain eager to offload their extras.
- To create space: Most people sold their preloved items to create space, with 62% of respondents saying they wanted to declutter.
- To make money: 53% of Kiwi sold secondhand items to make some extra cash.
- To share useful stuff: Many Kiwi felt their preloved items had life left in them, and 43% wanted their secondhand things to be of use to someone else.
- To go green: 36% of Kiwi wanted to keep items out of landfill and be environmentally friendly.
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At its core, the circular economy isn’t just a fleeting trend, it’s a movement that benefits both your wallet and our environment. Whether you’re looking to cash in on your clutter or hunt for that unique pre-loved gem, there’s never been a better time to get involved.
You can read our full report below.
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