Congressional group advocating for second-hand commerce established in the United States

The Recommerce Caucus, a bipartisan group focused on the buying and selling of pre-owned, refurbished, and secondhand goods, was launched last month. The caucus, which aims to prioritize empowering small sellers, expanding digital access, and strengthening sustainability, has received endorsements from various organizations, including American Circular Textiles and the PASS Coalition.

According to Ashley Shillingsburg, head of Americas government relations at eBay, the caucus has the potential to unlock new opportunities for online platforms and deliver benefits to consumers nationwide. The caucus's supporters mainly consist of individuals and organizations from the retail, technology, and sustainability sectors who advocate for laws and initiatives prioritizing the buying and selling of used, refurbished, and second-hand goods.

The U.S. secondhand apparel market grew five times faster than the overall retail clothing market last year and is expected to reach a $74 billion valuation by 2029. The recommerce sector is projected to reach $1.04 trillion globally by 2035. The caucus will work to support initiatives that extend product life cycles, cut down on landfill waste, and encourage environmentally responsible commerce.

Nathan Garnett, from OfferUp, stresses the importance of local interactions in the recommerce sector. The caucus's goals include making it more cost-effective to run and grow recommerce businesses, driving economic opportunity for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs, and reducing participation barriers to online platforms and promoting digital access.

According to Cathy Moscardini, head of sustainability at Depop, the new group will facilitate access to the revenue stream in the secondhand market. The Recommerce Caucus can help mainstream circular practices and make it easier and more attractive to buy and sell across the circular economy. American Circular Textiles' mission is to target policies supportive of the circular economy in the United States.

The supporters of the Recommerce Caucus also emphasize the importance of prioritizing small sellers in future policy decisions. The caucus, if successful, can drive significant changes in the recommerce sector and help individuals and small businesses earn income through resale, repair, and refurbishment on digital platforms. The Recommerce Caucus can make a positive impact on the environment by promoting sustainability and reducing waste.

Congressional group advocating for second-hand commerce established in the United States