Sweden’s Secondhand Shopping Mall Shows Sustainable Retail Can Be Profitable

The world’s first secondhand shopping mall opened in Eskilstuna in 2015, selling only recycled, reused, or sustainably produced items while educating visitors about environmental sustainability.

Sweden’s first-of-its-kind secondhand shopping mall proves that recycled goods can be seriously profitable while keeping tons of stuff out of landfills. ReTuna Återbruksgalleria in Eskilstuna sold $1.3 million worth of recycled goods in 2018, demonstrating that sustainable shopping isn’t only good for the planet, it’s also good business.

The secondhand shopping mall opened in August 2015, located next to a recycling centre approximately 70 miles west of Stockholm. Every single item sold there has been recycled, reused, or made from organic or sustainable materials. Nothing brand new from traditional manufacturing makes it onto the shelves.

Here’s how the system works in practice. Residents drop off their old furniture, clothes, toys, electronics, and household items at a depot inside the mall called “Returen.” Staff from AMA, which is Eskilstuna Municipality’s resource unit, sort through everything to separate usable items from actual garbage. The best items are distributed to various shops throughout the mall.

Each shop then picks what they want to work with. Store staff repair broken items, refinish old furniture, update outdated clothes, and transform unwanted objects into something people actually want to buy. It’s like a whole building full of people whose job is making old things cool again.

The location makes recycling incredibly convenient for shoppers. The secondhand shopping mall sits right beside a traditional recycling center where people can drop off materials for sorting. Someone can unload their recyclables, donate reusable items to the depot, and then browse the shop all in one trip.

The business model clearly resonates with consumers. By 2018, the mall generated 11.7 million Swedish kronor in sales, which converts to about $1.3 million US dollars. That revenue came entirely from items that would have otherwise been sent to landfills or recycling facilities. The financial success proves that circular economy concepts can work at a commercial scale.

See also: The Generational Shift Towards Secondhand Clothing

But ReTuna does more than just sell secondhand goods. The mall positions itself as a sustainability education centre. They host workshops, lectures, special events, and themed days focused on environmental topics. A local folk high school even runs a year-long program called “Recycle Design – Återbruk” right in the building, training the next generation of upcycling experts.

The facility includes conference rooms where organizations can hold what they call “climate-smart meetings.” Café Returama serves organic food and baked goods, maintaining a consistent sustainability mission throughout the entire visitor experience.

The project created over 50 jobs in the local community. These aren’t just retail positions; they include skilled repair work, furniture restoration, textile renovation, and creative upcycling roles. The secondhand shopping mall essentially built an entire employment sector around waste reduction.

Eskilstuna Municipality owns the mall through its company Eskilstuna Energi och Miljö, known as EEM. This municipal company operates businesses in energy and environmental sectors. ReTuna falls under the recycling division, and EEM’s stated mission is delivering maximum benefit to customers and residents while minimizing environmental impact.

The concept emerged from Eskilstuna Municipality’s commitment to environmental leadership. Local politicians wanted to create a shopping destination that would attract diverse crowds while spreading knowledge about sustainability and circular economy principles. Construction started in August 2014, and the mall opened exactly one year later on August 28, 2015.

The international response has been overwhelming. Documentary filmmakers, journalists, and curious visitors from around the globe have travelled to this Swedish town to see the secondhand shopping mall in action. Media coverage has spread the concept to other countries considering similar projects.

For anyone living in a city drowning in consumer waste, ReTuna offers a tangible alternative. Instead of throwing away furniture when you redecorate or tossing clothes that no longer fit your style, these items could be stocked in a store where someone else will love them.

The model also challenges the assumption that sustainable living means sacrifice. Shoppers at this innovative secondhand shopping mall aren’t settling for inferior products; they’re finding unique items that have been professionally restored and redesigned. The quality often exceeds what you’d find in fast-fashion stores or budget furniture chains.

The success of ReTuna suggests that circular economy models can scale beyond small boutique operations. A full secondhand shopping mall format makes sustainable consumption accessible and appealing to mainstream consumers who might never set foot in a traditional thrift store.