What would it take to turn resale and repair into a source of economic growth that uses fewer resources, produces fewer emissions, and creates more local jobs?
Resale is already expanding rapidly. In Sweden, second-hand sales reached SEK 16 billion in 2025 (Source: Svensk Handel Pre-Loved Indikator for 2025), and globally the second-hand market now accounts for approximately 10% of all apparel spending (Source: ThredUp 2026 Resale Report). Yet resale and repair businesses remain structurally disadvantaged by the very tax and regulatory frameworks that govern them. A new report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation argues this can change, using existing policy frameworks and tools already within government control.
The Sustainable Fashion Academy, The Scandinavian Initiative for Climate Action (STICA) and The Scandinavian Initiative for Nature Action (STICA+) invite you to participate in a webinar to learn more about the report’s analysis and conclusions and hear perspectives from key stakeholders.
The New Bottom Line: Policy Levers to Scale Resale and Repair for Fashion is part of the Foundation’s flagship demonstration project The Fashion ReModel, which works with brands and retailers to demonstrate the commercial viability of circular business models at scale. Launching mid May 2026, the report models the economic impact of a targeted policy mix — reduced VAT on resale and repair services, reduced labour taxation for jobs involved in resale and repair operations, and ambitious Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles with specific financial incentives for resale and repair — and what their combined effects could mean for business margins and market share.
The full report is available here: The New Bottom Line: Policy Levers to Scale Resale and Repair for Fashion
State of Play: What does research say about the environmental impact of resale and repair?
Frida Hermansson, PhD in Environmental Systems Analysis, Expert Life Cycle Management, Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)
Presentation of the report’s analysis and conclusions
Valerie Boiten, Senior Policy Officer, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Why resale and repair face a structural disadvantage under our current linear model – and what this means for industrial policy and competitiveness
The impacts of a targeted mix of three policy levers on the gross profit margins and market share for resale and repair businesses across EU markets
Panel discussion
Anna-Karin Dahlberg, Chief Sustainability Officer, Lindex
Marcus Hartmann, Head of Sustainability Operations, H&M Group
Lars Fogh Mortensen, Circular Economy, Consumption & Production Expert, European Environment Agency (EEA)
Moderated by:
Michael Schragger, Executive Director SFA; Director, STICA
Information on additional panelists to be updated shortly.
Q&A session
The Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) is an independent non-profit organisation based in Stockholm, Sweden. Its mission is to accelerate progress towards science-based sustainability targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by leveraging the power and influence of the apparel and textile industries. SFA initiates research, educates change agents, supports leading companies and mobilises stakeholders to drive transformation across areas such as policy, finance, and accountability.
SFA founded and leads the Scandinavian Textile Initiative for Climate Action (STICA), whose aim is to support the Nordic and European apparel and textile industries to reduce their climate impacts in line with a 1.5°C pathway. STICA includes a Company Climate Action Program where more than 50 apparel brands and retailers have committed to reducing their emissions, thus demonstrating accountability and leadership (read STICA’s 2025 Progress Report here). In 2025, SFA also launched the Scandinavian Textile Initiative for Nature Action (STICA+), a platform to address sustainability topics beyond climate, such as biodiversity, water and waste.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a global charity accelerating the transition to a circular economy — one that eliminates waste, keeps materials in use, and regenerates nature to create a resilient system that benefits business, people, and the environment.
Launched in 2010, we are driving implementation of the circular economy at scale to address today’s most pressing challenges. Our ambition is to deliver systemic change in the areas of critical minerals, fashion and textiles, and plastics, by 2030.
ellenmacarthurfoundation.org