Recycliste, launched in 2023 as Café du Cycliste’s first platform for second-hand buying and selling, giving a new life cycle to pre-owned Café du Cycliste items, has expanded its geographic reach.
Initially launched in France, the business has announced the introduction of Recycliste in Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, managed by its partner, Treet.
Treet provides “a secure and easy-to-use interface via which cyclists can upload their unwanted garments for others to browse and purchase directly. Post-sale, the vendor can choose to receive cash or enhanced credit to spend on our website.”
In sharing the news, Café du Cycliste states, “With our emphasis on premium fabrics and European factories, we’re proud of the quality of our products: all our pieces are designed to go long. With Recycliste, we’re giving them the best possible chance of being enjoyed a second time around, reducing textile waste, extending our brand’s presence and giving new life to pre-loved styles.”
Bigger picture overview
‘Used-approved’ or ‘pre-loved’ platforms have grown exponentially over the past 5 years, enabling customers to sell and buy clothing. The arrival of brand-specific platforms offers businesses a “dedicated (way) to ensuring the longest life possible for (its) products in line with our commitment to reducing our environmental impact.”
It’s this last part – “commitment to reducing our environmental impact” – which comes under scrutiny. Does the ability to sell also stimulate the ability to buy? If ‘yes’, then how is this truly ‘reducing’ impact?
Also of note, as European Digital Product Passports (DPP) come into effect, pre-loved platforms become online archive sales tools, enabling the new to be separated out from the unsold and now discounted.
“Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules to make producers financially responsible for waste management from 2027″ – disposal is now the responsibility of the producer. Managing manufacturing and inventory becomes a very different business and environmental challenge.
