Sports retailer Decathlon UK has launched Decathlon Second Life, a new ecommerce site that resells returned and refurbished sports equipment. The sustainability initiative will see Decathlon recycle, repair and reuse sports equipment to give products a second life.

As well as preventing items from going to waste, Second Life will significantly reduce Decathlon’s impact on the environment. Having listened closely to the values and voices of both its customers and employees, the company hopes to amplify these voices and inspire positive change for the planet and its people.

The Decathlon Second Life collection will be available to purchase in-store and via its ecommerce platform.

This experimental project begins with a soft launch focusing on refurbished bikes, fitness equipment, weights, tents, scooters, kayaks and SUPs. As the project develops, Decathlon aims to introduce other sports hardware, clothing and textiles in the near future.

Every Second Life product is refurbished by a team of expert technicians and undergoes a rigorous condition rating process before being assigned a grade from A to D. This means Decathlon is still able to offer all original Decathlon promises, warranties and guarantees as with a brand-new product bought from its website.

The grading system will also be used to assign a price to each product. Grade A products – those with very light marks – will be available at a 10% discount in comparison to if the product was purchased as new. The discount level then increases by increments of 10% to Grade D products, where replacement parts might have been required, and a 40% discount.

Decathlon UK has long included sustainability as a core pillar of its updated business model.

The newest addition to its national targets notes progression on its environmental impact benchmarking. With this new initiative, Decathlon UK hopes to save 40,000kg of CO2 in 12 months. Simultaneously, it can make products available to its customers at an even more affordable price point.

Commenting is Nick Connell, project leader of the Decathlon Second Life project in the UK. “The team are really proud to be launching Second Life in 2021. Following a tough year for the retail sector, but especially the individual and our customers, we’re very excited.

“Our planet is worth protecting and we all need to accelerate in taking action to reduce our environmental impact. As a business with big production demands, we have to act now. By recycling, repairing and reusing products we’re adding another key action to our wider sustainability project.

“At the same time, we need to fulfil our company purpose to provide everyone in the UK with access to happier and healthier lifestyles, whether that be physically or financially. Therefore, Second Life will benefit both our planet and our customers’ pockets.”

Also commenting is Eric Mazillier, CEO of Decathlon UK.

“​At Decathlon UK, we strongly believe in our responsibility to help the British population get physically active and healthy through sport. We also believe in our responsibility to protect our​ ​playground…our planet.

“Decathlon’s Second Life project is a proud moment for Decathlon UK legacy.​ ​It is a new affordable option for​ the​ population to access sports equipment without any compromise on quality ​or​ safety.​

“​It is also an important first step in the changing approach to our business model; we are assessing what it really means to create value in society and our local communities.​​”

For further information on Decathlon UK, please click here.