Get to know IKEA

23 Nov 2020 IKEA restaurant meals: 50% plant-based by 2025

As one of the world’s largest food providers, IKEA is taking the next step towards making healthy and sustainable food more affordable and desirable to the many people. By adding more options to the menu in IKEA restaurants that are both more nutritious and delicious, IKEA hopes to inspire more healthy and sustainable choices. New IKEA food commitments, announced today in connection to a pre-event for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021, include that by 2025:50% of main meals offered in the restaurants to be plant-based and 80% to be non-red meat80% of all packaged food offered to be plant-based80% of all main meals offered in the restaurants to fulfil the IKEA Balanced Meal norm* for healthier foodPercentages are not sales targets.In 2019, over 680 million IKEA customers experienced the IKEA food offer in the restaurants, bistros and the Swedish Food Markets. As a global business, IKEA has a big responsibility – and opportunity – to make a positive difference and inspire a more healthy and sustainable living.Today, people with thin wallets have the hardest time affording healthy and sustainable products and services. A recent study[1] of 27,000 people across 27 countries confirmed that three out of four people want to reduce their impact on the environment by a large amount, and a significant number of meat eaters would be willing to switch to plant-based alternatives if they taste equally good, and have the same price and nutritional value.The survey also showed that companies have an important role to play in turning consumer thoughts and values into action, by making sustainable options more affordable.“IKEA wants to make healthy and sustainable choices the most desirable option, by for example demonstrating that plant-based food can be really delicious. Research confirms the importance of making sustainable products affordable and desirable, and IKEA can really make a positive difference here. The more sustainable choice shouldn’t be a luxury for the few. It should be part of people’s everyday life” says Lena Pripp-Kovac, Chief Sustainability Officer at Inter IKEA Group.The traditional meatball will stay on the menu. But In the last couple of years, IKEA has set out to develop more delicious and affordable plant-based options and to challenge the meat icons, with examples including the veggie ball, a chicken ball, a veggie hot dog and a salmon ball. The most recent example is the plant ball HUVUDROLL – a more sustainable option for the many meatball lovers that has only 4%** of the climate footprint of the traditional meatball, without compromising on taste and texture.According to recent science[2], eating less red meat, and more fruit and vegetables, is good for both people and planet. The food system today contributes 25-30% of global greenhouse emissions, and a significant part comes from livestock production[3].“A truly sustainable food system must be based on delicious, nutritious and responsibly produced food. IKEA is taking a full value chain approach to contributing to sustainable food systems, from responsible sourcing of materials, reducing food waste along the value chain, circular and more sustainable packaging and using the IKEA reach to make healthy and sustainable food options available to as many people as possible.”, says Peter van der Poel, Managing Director for IKEA of Sweden and Manager IKEA Range & SupplyIKEA has already made a meaningful start on this journey. More plant-based and healthier food options will continue to be rolled out in a phased approach in IKEA restaurants and Swedish Food Markets.*Healthier according to the IKEA Balanced Meal Norm: a science-based nutrition assessment framework created by IKEA and used in product development to improve the nutritional quality of meals and snacks in IKEA Food. The Balanced Meal Norm means that meals meet requirements IKEA has set to manage the content of calories (kcal), saturated fats, sugars, salt and fibre in the meal. These are key nutrients to target to help children as well as adults to eat and live healthier. The IKEA Balanced Meal Norm supports IKEA in developing meals that have a balance in the content of these nutrients.** Relates to the climate footprint of the ingredients only, and excludes processing, transportation and storing.  [1] https://globescan.com/people-want-healthy-sustainable-living-choices-2020[2] https://eatforum.org/content/uploads/2019/07/EAT-Lancet_Commission_Summary_Report.pdf[3] https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/08/2f.-Chapter-5_FINAL.pdf 

09 Nov 2020 Mexico, welcome to the IKEA family!

Three years ago, Inter IKEA Systems B.V., the owner of the IKEA concept and the worldwide IKEA franchisor, decided to grant IKANO Group* the market allocation for Mexico. Now the time has come to warmly welcome Mexico as a new retail market in the IKEA world. “We are very excited to bring the IKEA concept to Mexico. To offer the IKEA range of well-designed and functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. IKANO brings a lot of experience in developing and successfully operating retail businesses, and together we are determined to make IKEA beloved and meaningful also in Mexico”, says Konrad Grüss, Managing Director, Inter IKEA Systems B.V. During the first couple of months, the IKEA offer and products will be available via e-commerce with home delivery. The first IKEA store will open its doors in Mexico City in the first quarter of 2021, at the Encuentro Oceanía. The store will create around 350 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs. “We are very happy and proud to have started operations in Mexico, and we are looking forward to provide our market with the IKEA concept and products in order to create a better everyday life for the many people of Mexico,” says Malcolm Pruys, IKEA Mexico Retail Country Manager. He continues:“We are excited to open IKEA in Mexico only three years after the decision was made to enter the Mexican market. Especially under the tough Covid-19 conditions in Mexico City. It took significant collaboration and support across the IKANO Group and the retail business to make this possible. We now look forward to opening the first store early next year,” says Malcolm Pruys.For more information: media.franchisor@inter.IKEA.com*IKANO Group operates IKEA stores in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. With more than 6,000 co-workers in 17 countries, the Ikano Group business model is covering more than retail, with a number of companies active also within banking, real estate, production and insurance. Ikano Group was established in 1988 and is owned by the Kamprad family.About IKEA IKEA offers well-designed, functional and affordable, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment. There are several companies with different owners, operating under the IKEA trademark, all sharing the same vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people. The IKEA business was founded in Sweden in 1943. About Inter IKEA Group Inter IKEA Group includes Inter IKEA Systems B.V., IKEA of Sweden AB, IKEA Supply AG, IKEA Industry AB and their related businesses. Inter IKEA Holding B.V. is the holding company for the Inter IKEA Group.About the IKEA franchise system The IKEA retail business is operated through a franchise system with franchisees that are, among others, authorised to market and sell IKEA products from the IKEA product range within specified geographical territories. Inter IKEA Systems B.V. is the owner of the IKEA concept and worldwide IKEA franchisor, who also assigns different Inter IKEA Group companies to develop the range, supply products and deliver communication solutions. Today, 12 different groups of companies own and operate IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 

04 Nov 2020 The world’s first second-hand IKEA store opens in Sweden

IKEA takes a step forward in its journey to become a circular business by 2030, with the opening of its first world’s first second-hand store in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The store is located in the ReTuna Shopping Centre, where all products sold are reused or recycled.The new store that will be open initially for 6 months, is run by the existing IKEA Västerås store that will provide furniture and home furnishing accessories that for different reasons have been damaged. At ReTuna they will be repaired and given a second chance in a new home.The collaboration with ReTuna will help IKEA understand why some IKEA products are turned into waste, what condition they are in when thrown away, why do people choose to donate or recycle products, and if there’s an interest in buying the products that have been repaired.The store is part of IKEA’s aim to develop a circular and profitable business model for the future. The second-hand store helps IKEA test this approach and inspire more people to live a more sustainable life within the boundaries of the planet, paving the way to transition from a linear to a circular business model.IKEA Circular journey and commitmentsTransforming into a circular business impacts every aspect of the IKEA business: from how and where we meet IKEA customers, how and what products and services we develop, to how we source materials and develop the IKEA supply chain. We are adapting our existing business model to enable the prolongation of product and material life, by enabling the four circular loops of reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling.The IKEA ambition for 2030 is to become a circular business built on renewable energy and regenerative resources; decoupling material use from our growth. We have a clear approach: to make more from less, enabling the business to reduce waste and become more efficient in all we do. IKEA has an ambitious roadmap that includes different commitments: Develop circular capabilities in all our products by 2030.Aim for only renewable or recycled materials by 2030Develop scalable solutions for customers to acquire, care for, and pass on products in circular ways.Take the lead and join forces with others through advocacy, collaboration, and business partnershipsIKEA has been on the journey toward a circular economy for many years.  Some actions we have taken to prepare us for this shift include: We have developed circular product design principles to guide the development of every product we sell. All our products will be circular by 2030. We have assessed our existing product offer (10,000 articles) and now we are in the process of describing how we will reach this goal.We encourage the reuse of our products by offering spare parts and fittings through IKEA after sales.We have completed an assessment of all materials and developed material roadmaps to deliver to our 2030 goals.More than 10 years ago we started collecting packaging materials and used them as packaging materials again, and more recently using them to up-cycle into valuable products (for example SKRUTT desk protector and TOMAT spray bottle)We have removed all wooden pallets and replaced with paper pallets, enabling an increased volume of products in each shipment, with no need for return shipments of empty wooden pallets. The result is a reduction of CO2 emissions and approximately 50,000 less trucks on the roads in Europe alone.We are implementing the IKEA People & Planet Positive strategy, the IKEA sustainability roadmap for everyone in the IKEA franchise system and value chain.We actively work with others to advance the circularity movement, such as EFIC (European Furniture Industry Confederation), Euro Commerce, strategic partner to Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

04 Nov 2020 IKEA committed to make clean indoor air accessible for the many by launching new air purifier

Clean indoor air is crucial for health and wellbeing, and IKEA is committed to enable the many people to purify the air in their homes by developing affordable and high performing solutions. Launching FÖRNUFTIG air purifier is a new step in this journey. It will be launched firstly in China mainland in November 2020, and rolled-out in other IKEA markets starting from February 2021.“At IKEA, we believe clean indoor air shouldn’t be a luxury for the few, and that’s why one of our main priorities in developing FÖRNUFTIG air purifier was to achieve a low price for both the air purifier and the filters.” says Henrik Telander, Product Owner at IKEA of Sweden. “Today, air purifiers aren’t a viable option for most people, in particular not for those living in small spaces. With this in mind we optimized the air purifier for about 10 square meters, using less material in a smarter way, which enabled us to lower the price.”Indoor air pollution is a big health issue that can cause heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and cancer. The indoor pollutant that scientists believe may be most harmful to human health is particles (PM). The finest ones pose the most risk since they can enter the bloodstream and damage the heart and other organs, including the brain.*“There is a general misconception that air pollution mainly happens outdoors, and that our home is a safe haven. IKEA conducted a Clean Air Survey in 2018 and found that people around the world underestimate air pollution in their homes.” says Alexandra Audrey Galef, Sustainability Development Leader IKEA of Sweden. “The ‘Clean Air at Home’ guide by IKEA shares many simple actions that people can take to improve indoor air quality. For example, using an exhaust fan while cooking, cleaning regularly to reduce dust or mould, and using tools that purify the air.”FÖRNUFTIG air purifier has a pre-filter that removes big particles such as hair and dust, a filter for particle removal that removes smaller airborne particles such as dust and pollen down to PM2.5 (particle size 2.5um) and a filter for gas cleaning that purifies the air from various gaseous pollutants such as VOC’s and formaldehyde, and reduces unpleasant odours such as from smoking and cooking. It is designed to be easy to use, as it’s simply started by turning the dial to the wanted fan speed based on the activity in the home. Depending on the fan speed, it consumes 2.5W-19W.“Part of what makes FÖRNUFTIG affordable is that we have managed to significantly lower its energy consumption, and hence secured a low running cost for the customer”, says Henrik Telander.IKEA has for many years reduced air pollution from its own operations and phased out chemicals to avoid any harmful effect to people’s health or the environment throughout the product lifecycle. One example being formaldehyde, where the IKEA limit value is well below the European limit level for individual wood-based materials. “We know that there is no single solution to solve air pollution. We work long term for positive change, to enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives,” says Alexandra Galef.  * Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/air-pollution