Developing a sustainable online ecosystem for second-hand accessories within a university community

This paper presents the development and implementation of a second-hand marketplace web application tailored for a university community. The platform aims to facilitate promote sustainable practices, and foster a sense of community among students. By offering features such as product listing, university and course-specific filtering and communication, the platform addresses key trust and usability concerns. The study evaluates the platform’s effectiveness through user engagement metrics, and user feedback. Results indicate high user satisfaction and a significant contribution to waste reduction and cost savings for students. The discussion analyses the platform’s success, identifies potential barriers to adoption, and proposes scaling strategies, including community building and partnerships. Future research directions include longitudinal studies, comparative analyses, and social impact assessments. This research demonstrates the potential of technology to promote sustainable consumption practices and create a more environmentally and socially responsible university environment.