What is recommerce? Trends, benefits, and brand strategies

What is recommerce and its growing impact 

Recommerce—short for “reverse commerce”—is the resale, refurbishment, or recycling of products after their first use. It’s the practical side of the circular economy, turning what was once product waste into a new source of revenue. 

Shoppers are driving the change. Nearly 80% of global consumers say sustainability influences their purchases, and one in three bought secondhand last year. Rising prices and growing environmental awareness have made “pre-owned” products both a smart and responsible choice. 

Governments are reinforcing this shift. The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) rules will require brands to trace materials, components, and product origins across their full lifecycle. Forward-looking companies are already investing in the systems needed to meet these new standards—and win consumer trust. 

Recommerce by industry: Apparel, electronics, furniture, beauty 

Recommerce looks different in every industry, but it all depends on accurate, connected product data. 

• Apparel: The fashion resale market is set to double by 2027, reaching $350 billion globally. Brands are adopting take-back, repair, and resale programs to cut overproduction and appeal to Gen Z’s sustainability-driven mindset.   

• Electronics: The refurbished electronics market will hit $357 billion by 2033, growing at a 13% CAGR, according to Verified Market Reports. Tracking serialized parts and verifying condition data ensures compliance with safety, warranty, and compliance.  

• Furniture: Circular furniture models are expanding at 11.2% CAGR, powered by reverse logistics and Digital Product Passport readiness. Product traceability validates sustainability claims and materials sourcing.   

• Beauty: Refillable and recycling initiatives are gaining traction—42% of consumers now prefer brands with closed-loop packaging systems, according to Deloitte. 

Each sector has unique operational challenges, but all rely on accurate, centralized product data to resell confidently and sustainably. 

The business case: How recommerce drives profit and loyalty 

Treating recommerce as an afterthought is a missed revenue opportunity. People often do not realize that circular business is profitable. 

1. Revenue recovery 

Reselling refurbished or returned goods captures value that would otherwise be lost. Brands can recover 15–30% of product value through recommerce programs while lowering disposal costs. 

2. Customer loyalty 

Trade-in and resale programs increase retention. 90% of consumers say they’re more likely to repurchase from brands that offer sustainable options. 

3. Brand trust and transparency 

Consumers trust companies that prove accountability. Recommerce provides brands with tangible proof of sustainability, helping them avoid greenwashing and demonstrating a genuine commitment to circular practices. 

4. Regulatory and ESG readiness 

Embedding recommerce into your operations supports circular economy compliance, ESG reporting, and sustainability performance tracking. It positions your business ahead of tightening environmental disclosure rules. 

The recommerce lifecycle 

Recommerce follows a continuous loop that creates measurable value at every stage. 
Each phase depends on traceable, accurate product data to maintain quality and transparency throughout the process. 

The tech layer: Product data as the engine of circular growth 

Recommerce only works when product data works. Without structured, accurate, and accessible information, you can’t trace items, verify quality, or give customers the transparency they expect. 

A centralized Product Information Management (PIM) system, such as Inriver, connects, enriches, and governs product data across every stage of the circular lifecycle: sourcing, refurbishment, resale, and recycling. 

• Traceability
  What it enables: Creates a digital fingerprint for every product, linking origin, materials, and maintenance history. Enables authentication, warranty tracking, and DPP compliance. 
• Compliance
  What it enables: Automates data updates so every resale listing meets local regulations and sustainability standards. 
• Automation
  What it enables: Uses AI to categorize returned products, update condition fields, and flag missing attributes at scale. 
• Lifecycle reporting 
  What it enables: Tracks recovery rates, emissions savings, and circular metrics for ESG disclosures and performance reviews.  

When these capabilities are unified in a single system, you gain full control of the product journey—from first sale to second life. Product data becomes a growth engine, not just an operational asset. 

Operational roadblocks to overcome 

Even with growing consumer demand, recommerce brings logistical and data challenges. Overcoming these early challenges helps brands scale efficiently and secure measurable ROI. 

Brands that solve these operational gaps gain a lasting competitive edge and the agility to confidently grow circular programs. 

The next frontier: AI, digital IDs, and policy-driven recommerce 

The next wave of recommerce will be defined by automation, digital verification, and accountability. These innovations are moving from early adoption to business necessity—reshaping how brands manage, track, and prove circular value. 

AI for quality detection 

Artificial intelligence is transforming how brands process returns. Visual recognition and predictive models can instantly grade products, identify damage, and forecast resale value—reducing manual work and accelerating time to market. 

The same intelligence already powering instant, data-driven checkout experiences is now being applied to post-purchase operations, helping brands streamline recommerce with the same precision that drives modern retail. 

Digital Product Passports 

By 2030, the EU expects all high-impact products to carry digital IDs with verified origin, material, and repair data. DPPs will create complete lifecycle visibility and force brands to connect their product data systems, closing the loop between sustainability claims and evidence. 

Blockchain authentication 

For high-value or regulated goods, blockchain provides secure ownership and resale verification. It reduces fraud, strengthens consumer trust, and delivers traceability that’s impossible to fake. 

Carbon tracking integration 

Emerging carbon-accounting frameworks are linking product-level data to lifecycle emissions. Clean, connected product data enables accurate Scope 3 emissions tracking, helping businesses quantify impact and meet ESG disclosure requirements with confidence. 

The brands that act early won’t just stay compliant; they’ll lead the next era of transparency and trust. In recommerce, innovation and integrity are now the same competitive advantage. 

Smart data = sustainable growth 

Whatever you’re selling in 2025, it’s clear that sustainability, profit, and performance can’t be separated. Circular commerce gives you the chance to prove that your products and your data can do more. 

Your success depends on how well you command product information. When your data is structured, connected, and trusted, it becomes a driver of growth, not just compliance. 

With Inriver, you gain the control to adapt fast, scale recommerce programs, and build the proof your customers and regulators expect. Its adaptable architecture gives you the flexibility to manage every stage of the product lifecycle with confidence. 

It’s time to make your data work harder—for your business, your customers, and your sustainability goals. Book a demo and see how Inriver helps you turn product data into a measurable advantage.