Over half of UK adults have bought a second-hand item online in the past year, according to report

The report revealed that 55% of the UK population, around 28 million, have purchased a pre-loved item online in the past 12 months, while 47% have also sold a second-hand item online over this period.

Of those aged 18-34, 67% bought second-hand items online in the past year, while 61% of 35-54 year-olds also shopped pre-loved online. Just 40% of those aged 55 and over bought or sold a second-hand item during this period.

Evri reported “first-hand explosive growth” of second-hand platforms in the past year as it experienced a 160% year-on-year rise in parcel volumes on such platforms.

The delivery firm also found that 10% of UK consumers purchased pre-loved items several times a month.

Ongoing cost-of-living pressures were chiefly behind the demand for pre-loved shopping, with 75% saying this was the main reason for their drive behind sustainable shopping.

According to GlobalData, industry analysts expect the second-hand market to grow strongly, as pre-loved clothes sales increased by 18% to $197bn (£156bn) last year, with forecasts to reach $350bn (£274bn) by 2028.

Evri chief executive Martijn de Lange said: “The pre-loved revolution in online shopping is still in its infancy and we see a long runway of growth ahead. Whether it is a desire to shop more sustainably, find unique items, or save and make money, consumers have caught the second-hand online shopping bug.

“The reality is that consumers are finding their own properties and those of others veritable treasure troves of pre-loved items from dresses to tech gadgets – and this is fuelling this bargain-hunting phenomenon online.”