share on
As climate concerns continue to shape organisational priorities, HR plays a key role in leading the shift towards more sustainable workplace habits.
As organisations race to meet their sustainability targets, HR professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the charge – not just through policy, but through everyday behaviour change. The workplace is a powerful platform for cultivating habits that align with larger environmental goals. But beyond energy-efficient lighting and recycling bins, one often-overlooked lever is the simple act of choosing secondhand.
Carousell Group’s 2025 Circular Economy Impact Report offers timely insights into how secondhand choices can make a measurable difference. In 2023 alone, users across its platforms potentially avoided over 153,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by opting for pre-owned goods. For HR leaders, this presents an opportunity to bring sustainability closer to home – embedding low-carbon practices into the culture, operations, and mindset of the modern workplace.
The report revealed various key findings:
- In 2023, 153,141 tonnes of carbon emissions were avoided, equivalating to the amount of CO² absorbed annually by 9mn trees.
- An average of 14kg CO²e avoided per secondhand item transacted via Carousell Group, equivalent to producing 22 plastic bottles.
- About three out of five purchases on Carousell Group potentially replaced a new item.
- Top impact categories include furniture & home living, computers & tech, home appliances, mobile phones, and sports equipment.
Here are seven practical ways to put these learnings into action:
Set up an office swap corner
Encourage employees to exchange pre-loved items – from books and décor to tech accessories.
Choose refurbished tech
Consider certified second-hand laptops, monitors, or mobile phones for your teams. Electronics are among the top CO²-saving categories, with refurbished options offering up to 60% lower carbon impact than new items.
Integrate circular procurement
Re-evaluate procurement policies to prioritise second-hand furniture, appliances, and office materials.
Embed sustainability into internal comms
Educate employees on how small choices add up. Bring this transparency into your internal platforms – whether it’s sustainability dashboards or weekly green tips.
Leverage tech to nudge eco-friendly behaviour
Incorporate AI or automation tools that streamline green practices – like recommending digital alternatives to printing, or suggesting eco-friendly commuting options when booking travel.
Align green goals with CSR
Take a cue from platforms that link impact campaigns with community outcomes. Organise company-wide preloved sales or donation drives tied to tree-planting or environmental causes.
Make it visible and celebratory
Host events or displays that show your collective impact. As an example, you can visualise how many kilograms of waste were diverted or how many items were given a second life in your organisation.
Second-hand isn’t just affordable – it’s transformational. By making second-hand habits part of everyday work culture, HR leaders can help reduce environmental impact, foster a sense of shared purpose, and turn climate action into an accessible, repeatable routine.
Lead image / Carousell Group
share on
