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In 2014, the ADEME (ecological transition agency) published a first study on the market of unsold non-food products. In a context of evolving awareness of environmental issues and current and future legislative changes, such as the AGEC law, ADEME is publishing a new report at the beginning of 2023.

In particular, this study makes it possible to analyze:

• Causes of unsold inventory: why certain types of inventory are not sold.
• What happens to unsold goods: in this study, five ways of disposal are studied, such as destocking (resale by a third party), donations to associations, repair, recycling and destruction.
• The market value of non-food unsold goods by key sectors.

This study is in line with the implementation of the AGEC law. The AGEC law is the obligation for companies to destroy their stock of unsold non-food items only if they have previously tried in vain to resell, donate or recycle them. This law will undoubtedly have a strong impact on the unsold goods market in France.

In 2019, the total market value of unsold goods leaving stores and factories is estimated at €4,2 billion in France.

The sectors most prone to unsold goods are :

• Cultural products: DVDs, games… which represent 9% of sales, or €887 million.
• Clothing and footwear, which account for 4% of sales, or €1685 million.

But why can’t so many goods find buyers?

3 reasons stand out, varying according to the sector:

• 34% of unsold goods represent end-of-series and marketing obsolescence.
• 28% represents theabsence of commercial outlets, prohibited sale at a loss, destocking.
• And finally 24% represents the minor defects that alter the performance of the product.

Today, most of the unsold goods end up in destocking, in donations to associations and in recycling. But according to the report and the forecast analysis of the ADEME, the share of associative donation should increase, as well as for recycling, thanks to the AGEC law.

Indeed, companies of all sizes will have to comply with the requirements of this new law. This will result in a change in the nature of the donations received by the receiving structures and logistics intermediaries, with more variable batch sizes (large stocks from large groups, and small batches from SMEs). It will be critical for the donation community to adapt to these changes.

CircularPlace has developed a marketplace allowing the resale of your non-food waste between professionals, and puts you in touch with non-profit organizations to recover your products.

Don’t throw away any more, opt for the second hand!