Decathlon Expands Buyback Service to Include Tennis Rackets, Kayaks, and More Sports Equipment

Decathlon Expands Buyback Service to Include More Sports and Fitness Equipment

Decathlon has announced the expansion of its buyback service to include a wider range of sports and fitness equipment, such as tennis rackets, kayaks, paddleboards, and camping gear. The recommerce initiative, which was initially launched for the company’s own-brand bicycles, allows customers to return old items in exchange for store credit worth up to 40 per cent of the valued item. The returned items are then refurbished and resold by the sports retailer.

Since the launch of the service in the UK, Decathlon has upcycled more than 1,000 bicycles, with plans to buy back, resell, or revive 800,000 products through the newly-expanded scheme. Chris Allen, sustainability leader at Decathlon UK, emphasized the company’s commitment to promoting participation in sports in a sustainable manner. “Buyback allows people to realize value from older or unused kit and exchange it for new or refurbished products,” Allen said. “With the cost of living still impacting our customers, we want to ensure people are ready to play this summer, whatever the weather.”

To return an item to Decathlon, customers can complete a quick online assessment to register the return of their eligible product and receive an upfront quote. They can then schedule a drop-off at their nearest store and receive vouchers for Decathlon products. Additionally, customers can have their sports kits repaired at any Decathlon store nationwide, as the retailer boasts an “extensive inventory” of more than 5,000 spare parts.

This expansion of the circular economy scheme comes shortly after Marks & Spencer launched a trial of a free postal donation service for second-hand clothes in partnership with Oxfam. The trial, funded by M&S’s Plan A Accelerator Fund, allows households to send their second-hand clothing to Oxfam for free via a local courier to be resold, reused, and recycled by the charity.

As sustainability initiatives continue to gain momentum, businesses like Decathlon and Marks & Spencer are leading the way in promoting circular economy practices and reducing waste. To stay informed on the latest developments in sustainability, professionals can check out BusinessGreen Intelligence, the premier source for information on the UK’s green economy.