Going Back To School, Increasingly Green: 37% Buy Second-Hand School Supplies

The new course is always loaded with new adventures and expectations, and one of the first tasks after returning from vacation is the purchase of school supplies. This can be a big outlay for families and sometimes waste items that are in perfect condition.

However, according to data from Wallapop1, 37% of Spaniards already buy second-hand school supplies . On going back to school, among Spaniards who decide to go second-hand, 40% look for textbooks, a small gesture that, depending on the publisher and the course, can mean great savings for families. These are followed by electronic devices (24%), such as tablets or laptops, and backpacks (10%).

The second hand is an increasingly solid option for families, especially when purchasing products that will have a limited period of use. In this sense, September is also a good time to renew children’s items: 46% of Spaniards buy cribs, high chairs or bathtubs; 38%, games or toys; and 27%, clothes for the little ones, on second-hand platforms.

The popularity of this form of consumption offers several advantages: by purchasing items that are more affordable than if they were first-hand, consumers reduce their expenses and, by selling them, they obtain an economic opportunity to recoup a portion of their initial investment. According to the study The Network of Change by Wallapop,

“The economic impact of COVID-19 has caused many people to be more aware of the second hand than ever, either because of the economic opportunity it represents, or because they have experienced a change in habits and priorities regarding sustainability,” says Olivia Calafat, Marketing Director of Wallapop.

“With the arrival of back to school, which is a significant expense, many families turn to Wallapop to save part of the outlay of textbooks, uniforms, backpacks and new materials, while practicing more responsible consumption.”

4 tips for buying second-hand school supplies
Wallapop, the leading platform for sustainable and responsible consumption among people, has compiled several tips to find the best second-hand products for back to school and start the new course on the right foot:

1. Make sure the product is in good condition : it is essential to agree with the seller the state in which the material is to be delivered. Ask for the necessary photos or even a video to verify that they can be used again. For example, when buying textbooks it is important to make sure that any annotations you have are in pencil so that it can be erased.
2. When shopping, think long term : there are many items, such as backpacks or pencil cases, that can last several years. Look at the areas where these products are most fragile, such as zippers and stitching, to see if they can be used for more than one school year.
3. Compare prices : analyze well all published articles. Normally, prices vary a couple of euros between sellers, or there are even many that offer packs and several products together. This is normal for advertisements for textbooks or rule sets, markers, and / or pencils. In addition to getting a good price, you can save the time of searching for these items separately.
4. Take care of what you buy : once you have the new material in your hands, give it a new touch. With disinfectant alcohol you can leave them as new. Get creative and personalize your backpacks and cases. Do not forget to cover the books to preserve them over time and prevent them from bending and wearing out. Taking care of your materials is the best way to be sustainable and extend their useful life. Who knows, maybe they could serve someone in the future.