Ikea is preparing to launch its own secondhand selling platform in the UK, a move that will put it in direct competition with eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted. The new online marketplace, expected to go live within the next few months, will allow shoppers enrolled in the Ikea Family loyalty scheme to connect directly with one another to buy and sell pre-owned items.
The company confirmed the initiative in a statement, outlining its ambition to make the process of passing on used Ikea furniture as straightforward as possible. A spokesperson for Ikea said: “Our goal is to make passing on beloved Ikea pieces as seamless as possible. We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our Ikea Family [loyalty scheme] members to trade directly with one another.”
UK launch details and store locations
Further details about the UK online site are expected to be announced in the coming months, according to the company, which operates a store in Wednesday in the West Midlands near Birmingham. The secondhand platform is part of Ikea’s broader commitment to become “climate positive” by 2030, a pledge that includes ensuring all products are made from renewable, recyclable and recycled materials.
The move into resale is not the only sustainability-focused initiative from the retailer. Ikea is also introducing ‘Great British Bin Juice’, a limited-edition apple juice made from surplus British fruit. The product aims to highlight the issue of food waste in the UK, where an estimated 10.2 million tonnes of food and drink go unused each year.
Food waste and the 'Great British Bin Juice' initiative
According to Ikea, the average four-person household in the UK loses around £1,000 worth of food annually. The company says this represents a clear opportunity for households to make more of the food they already have at home. The ‘Great British Bin Juice’ initiative is designed to demonstrate how overlooked ingredients can be turned into something enjoyable while encouraging practical solutions to reduce waste.
Karen Hughes, Country Food Manager at IKEA UK and Ireland, said: “At IKEA, we believe good food should always be valued and enjoyed. ‘Great British Bin Juice’ is a fun and simple way to show how ingredients, often overlooked, can be turned into something delicious. But most importantly, it’s about sharing practical solutions that can help individuals make more of the food they already have. When we rethink the value of what’s already in our kitchens, those small daily habits can make a big difference.”
Industry reaction and circular economy goals
The food waste initiative has drawn praise from WRAP, the UK waste charity. Jen Emerton, Head of Business Engagement at WRAP, commented: “The volume of edible food currently going to waste across the UK represents a significant environmental and economic issue. It also highlights a huge opportunity for innovation. IKEA’s achievement in halving its kitchen waste using a data-driven approach is a powerful example of this in action. We welcome approaches that demonstrate the value of treating surplus food as a resource, which is a key part of building a more circular food system.”
Ikea’s dual focus on secondhand furniture sales and food waste reduction reflects its wider strategy to embed circular principles across its operations. The launch of the UK resale platform, alongside the ‘Great British Bin Juice’ product, signals the company’s intent to tackle waste in multiple areas of its business. With the marketplace due to launch in the coming months, UK members of the Ikea Family scheme will soon have a new channel to trade pre-owned furniture directly with one another, potentially reshaping how consumers buy and sell secondhand home goods.
