Retail giant Marks & Spencer partners with eBay to venture into the second-hand market.

In a significant move towards sustainability, British multinational company Modaes, formerly known as Marks&Spencer, has announced its entry into the second-hand market. This decision comes as part of the company's commitment to reducing waste and promoting circular fashion.

The catalyst for this initiative is the Another Life project, launched in the summer of 2024. The project encourages customers to repair and reuse their M&S clothes, with items sent for the project either being resold through eBay or recycled.

Modaes has collected an impressive 36.5 million items of M&S clothing since the launch of the Another Life project. Customers can send their used M&S items to Sojo, a British circular fashion startup, through a free local courier service.

In a unique collaboration, Modaes is working with Oxfam, a charity organisation associated with the brand. Customers who donate at least one M&S item to Oxfam will receive a £5 discount voucher when they spend £35 in Modaes' physical or online stores.

The Another Life project is not limited to the resale of second-hand clothing. Modaes is also collaborating with Reskinned, a repair and resale specialist, to ensure clothes are repaired and reused before being sold.

The project falls under the fashion, cosmetics, and home category, with sales for the last full financial year reaching £4.235 billion. The company aims to increase online sales to 50% of total sales for the medium term.

The profits from Modaes' eBay sales will be shared between Modaes, eBay, and Reskinned, with Oxfam keeping 15% of the profits. Modaes is also opening a second-hand clothing store on the eBay platform.

Despite the impact of the website closure following a cyberattack, Modaes' commitment to sustainability remains unwavering. The company reported a 3.5% increase in sales for the 2024 financial year compared to the previous year, indicating a positive response from customers to its sustainability initiatives.

Retail giant Marks & Spencer partners with eBay to venture into the second-hand market.