Carousell says its users avoided 153,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2023

Carousell Group linked this to users choosing pre-owned over new items.

Secondhand shopping is doing more than saving money—it’s cutting carbon emissions in a big way.

According to the latest Circular Economy Impact Report by Carousell Group, users across its platforms potentially avoided 153,141 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2023 by choosing pre-owned over new items. That’s roughly equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed by 9 million trees in a year.

The report—developed in collaboration with European climate tech company Vaayu—uses Life Cycle Assessment methodology to quantify the environmental benefits of secondhand transactions across four Carousell Group platforms: Carousell, Laku6, Mudah.my, and REFASH.

Each secondhand item bought on the Group’s platforms avoided an average of 14 kilograms of carbon emissions, equivalent to the emissions from producing 22 plastic bottles. The highest impact categories were furniture, tech, home appliances, mobile phones, and sports equipment.

According to the report, three out of five secondhand purchases on Carousell Group likely replaced the purchase of a new item, reducing demand for newly manufactured goods.

Carousell has integrated sustainability into the shopping experience with carbon savings estimates shown at the product listing level, encouraging users to consider environmental impact whilst browsing.

Meanwhile, platforms like Laku6 and Maujual in Indonesia have run tree-planting campaigns and launched new retail experiences focused on refurbished electronics and sustainability education.