Second-hand furniture. IKEA expands the reach of the second-hand platform

IKEA already accounts for 9 percent of the used furniture market in Europe, and the new platform is expected to increase this share even further.

The first tests of the second-hand platform service began in June 2024 in Spain and Norway. In 2025, the platform appeared in Poland and Portugal, and in 2026 they were joined by Sweden and then Belgium. IKEA recently launched the service in the UK and Ireland. The next step will be entry into the German market, scheduled for October 14, 2026.

How does second-hand IKEA work?

The platform enables the so-called peer-to-peer transactions. This means that users can list their used IKEA furniture (except mattresses, household appliances and food) and sell it to other customers. Just scan the product to create an ad - the platform suggests a suggested price, offers professional photos and accurate dimensions. Sellers can receive cash or choose an IKEA refund card with a 15 percent bonus.

Each ad contains a detailed product description, assembly instructions and care information, making it easier for buyers to make a decision. This solution is intended to help both people looking for bargains and those who want to sell furniture they no longer need.

Second-hand is becoming more and more popular

According to research commissioned by IKEA, as many as 63 percent of Britons bought something on second-hand platforms last year - that's as much as 51 percent more than in 2024. More than half of respondents sold something online in the last 12 months, and 60 percent believe that second-hand shopping helps them better manage their household budget.

Ecology versus "fast furniture"

Although IKEA does not emphasize the ecological aspect of the new platform in its communications, it cannot be denied that selling used furniture is a real benefit for the environment. Less waste goes to landfills and the demand for new raw materials falls.

However, the company still introduces as many as 2,000 new products a year, which is criticized by environmentalists and earns it the name "fast furniture".

In 2024, Greenpeace revealed that some IKEA suppliers were sourcing wood from Europe's last old-growth forests, including protected areas of the Romanian Carpathians.

IKEA assures that it remains "committed" to responsible sourcing of raw materials and wants to use only renewable and recycled materials by 2030 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half.