Summary

IKEA’s Buy-Back & Resale Program is a circular model that works — not just on paper, but at scale. In 2023 alone, over 430,000 items were given a second life, helping IKEA cut its climate footprint by 24.3% while growing revenue by 30.9%. With plans to go fully circular by 2030, IKEA is proving that second-hand can be a serious business. Here's how the model works — and how other players in the furniture industry can follow.
IKEA store exterior with large yellow IKEA logo and white Home furnishings sign on a blue facade under clear sky

What is IKEA’s As Is and Buy-Back Program?

The program is simple on the surface: customers bring back their gently used IKEA furniture, and in return, they receive store credit. IKEA either resells the item in its Second-Chance Market — also known as the As-Is section — or recycles it.

But behind that simplicity is a sophisticated operational system that touches everything from customer experience to reverse logistics to material recovery. It’s IKEA’s answer to the circular economy — and it’s already showing results.

Since launching in select markets like Sweden and the UK, the program has expanded rapidly. By the end of 2024, it was live in 33 U.S. stores and had already engaged over 211,600 customers in 2023 — double the participation from the year before.

The program’s origins go back to IKEA’s early announcement in 2019, when the company began positioning itself as a circular leader. Since then, it has grown from a pilot into a global business strategy.

How does the program work?

The process is simple:

  1. Submit an online form – Customers describe the item and its condition to receive an estimated quote.
  2. Bring the furniture to a store – Items must be assembled, clean, and fully functional.
  3. On-site evaluation – IKEA staff assess the item and confirm the final buy-back value.
  4. Receive store credit – If accepted, customers receive a refund card for the agreed amount.
  5. Resale or recycling – Items are sold in the Second-Chance Market or responsibly recycled.

Not all items qualify. Sofas, mattresses, and heavily worn or modified products are excluded. But common items like tables, chairs, dressers, and storage units form the backbone of the returns.

Step by step visual explanation, on how IKEA As-Is and Buy Back Program works.
By doing this, you can simply get credit back from IKEA.

Are buy-back programs economically attractive?

What makes this model so compelling is that it’s commercially viable — even at IKEA’s scale.

According to  what its parent company Ingka Group revealed in its sustainability report, in 2023, the company sold over 263,000 Second-Chance items through online reservation alone, up from just 70,000 the year before.

Meanwhile, the program helped contribute to a 24.3% reduction in IKEA’s climate footprint, while overall revenue climbed by 30.9%.

Even without precise profit margins on the buy-back operation, the direction is clear: customers are buying into circularity — and IKEA is monetizing it.

Beyond resale revenue, there’s also brand loyalty. A customer who brings back an old shelf and gets €40 in credit is highly likely to spend more than that on a new one. The return becomes the start of a new purchase cycle — not the end.

The company even uses flagship moments like Black Friday to promote its Second-Chance model, positioning resale as an alternative to overconsumption. It's a smart reframing — less waste, more value.

What other businesses can learn from IKEA

IKEA isn’t alone in experimenting with circularity. But it’s one of the few companies proving that take-back and resale can work at scale — not as a marketing initiative, but as a line of business.

And the key to that success? IKEA isn’t treating returned furniture as waste. It’s treating it as inventory. The Second-Chance Market isn’t a clearance bin — it’s a curated retail experience that fits seamlessly into the IKEA ecosystem.

It demonstrates how take-back systems can:

  • Generate new revenue streams
  • Create more customer touchpoints
  • Lower procurement and material costs
  • Strengthen brand image and customer trust

Other industries — especially in furniture, home appliances, textiles, and even industrial equipment — should take note. If a company like IKEA, with millions of SKUs and a global footprint, can operationalize second-life products, so can you.

A chair made out of wood with a label that says "Second Chance".

Launch your own take-back system with koorvi

Of course, not every company has IKEA’s infrastructure. That’s where koorvi comes in.

Our platform gives brands the tools they need to launch and scale their own buy-back or trade-in programs. From customer return portals to automated product evaluation and resale workflows — koorvi helps businesses turn returned items into revenue, not just risk.

With integrations into logistics, inventory, and customer systems, koorvi powers circular models that don’t just sound good — they run efficiently.

  • Easy return processes via web form
  • Automated evaluation and sorting
  • Real-time tracking and workflow automation

Ready to build your own buy-back program?

Circular business models aren’t a trend. They’re the next wave of competitiveness.

IKEA is proving that resale and returns can be a strategic growth lever, not just a sustainability box to check.

If you're ready to reclaim more value from your products, strengthen customer loyalty, and lead in circularity — koorvi is your partner.

👉 Contact us here and let’s build your Second-Chance Market

FAQs

What is IKEA's Buy-Back and As-Is Program?

IKEA's Buy-Back Program allows customers to return gently used furniture and receive store credit in exchange. Returned items are either resold in the Second-Chance Market—IKEA's dedicated As-Is section—or responsibly recycled. Launched in 2019 and expanded globally, the program reached 33 U.S. stores by 2024 and engaged over 211,600 customers in 2023 alone. Behind the simple customer-facing process lies sophisticated reverse logistics and material recovery infrastructure. The program operates as both a sustainability initiative and a revenue-generating business model that strengthens customer relationships.

How does IKEA's Buy-Back Program work?

Customers submit an online form describing their furniture and its condition to receive an estimated quote. They then bring the assembled, clean, and functional item to an IKEA store for on-site evaluation by staff. Once confirmed, customers receive store credit as a refund card. The returned furniture either enters the Second-Chance Market for resale or undergoes responsible recycling. Not all items qualify—sofas, mattresses, and heavily modified products are excluded—but standard items like tables, chairs, and storage units form the program's backbone, making the process streamlined and scalable.

Is IKEA's buy-back program economically successful?

Yes, the program demonstrates strong commercial viability. In 2023, IKEA sold over 263,000 Second-Chance items through online reservation alone, up from 70,000 the previous year. The program contributed to a 24.3% reduction in IKEA's climate footprint while overall revenue climbed 30.9%. Beyond resale revenue, the model drives customer loyalty—someone returning furniture for €40 in credit typically spends significantly more on replacements. This transforms returns into new purchase cycles rather than endpoints, creating sustainable revenue streams while positioning IKEA as a circular market leader.

What items can be returned through IKEA's Buy-Back Program?

Common furniture items like tables, chairs, dressers, and storage units form the backbone of IKEA's Buy-Back Program. However, sofas, mattresses, and heavily worn or modified products are excluded. Items must be assembled, clean, and fully functional to qualify. IKEA staff conduct on-site evaluations to confirm condition and determine final buy-back value. This selective approach ensures that returned items are genuinely suitable for resale in the Second-Chance Market or material recovery, maintaining quality standards while expanding the pool of available second-life products for budget-conscious and sustainability-minded customers.

How can other businesses implement a take-back system like IKEA's?

koorvi provides the infrastructure businesses need to launch and scale buy-back and trade-in programs without requiring IKEA's massive internal resources. The platform offers customer return portals, automated product evaluation and sorting, real-time tracking, and workflow automation integrated with logistics and inventory systems. Whether in furniture, home appliances, textiles, or industrial equipment, koorvi enables companies to transform returned items into revenue streams while building customer loyalty. By treating returns as inventory rather than waste, businesses can operationalize circular models efficiently and competitively.