Climate footprint at each stage of the IKEA value chain
21.2 Million tonnes CO₂ eq (FY20)
- Materials: 45%
- Food ingredients: 3%
- Production: 12%
- Product transport: 5%
- IKEA retail & other operations: 3%
- Business travel: 0.1%
- Customer travel & home deliveries: 6%
- Product use at home: 22%
- Product end-of-life: 4%
Drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions
To become climate positive, we first need to take responsibility to halve the climate footprint of the total IKEA value chain by 2030, in line with the 1.5°C target. We will mainly do this by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This will be achieved in the following ways:
- Promoting sustainable choices and transforming into a circular business.
- Striving towards electrification, 100% renewable energy and continually improving efficiency.
- Using more materials and food ingredients with a low climate footprint.
Product use at home
In FY20, we sold 76 million LED bulbs. The decrease in the climate footprint of product use at home has mainly been driven by greatly improving the energy efficiency of our already energy efficient LED bulbs.
What about materials?
We are significantly increasing the recycled content for our main metals, steel and aluminium, and continue to explore bio-based glue alternatives for our wood-based products. We also strive to make 100 per cent renewable energy the norm at board factories.
Working with suppliers to expand our 100% renewable energy goal
Switching to renewable energy is critical to phase out fossil fuels - the root cause of climate change. While we’re committed to reaching the goal of 100% renewable energy for all IKEA operations by FY30, we want to enable our supply partners to achieve this goal as well. We’re providing two ways for them to convert to 100% renewable energy: by financing on-site investments and enabling the purchasing of renewable electricity - especially in countries where access is difficult.
IKEA launches new program to accelerate suppliers’ transition to 100% renewable electricity
More plant-based food
In August 2020, we launched the HUVUDROLL plant ball, that has only 4% of the climate footprint compared to the ingredients of the iconic meatball. With ingredients like pea protein, oats, apples and potatoes, we have worked hard to recreate this iconic classic IKEA product to be a more sustainable option without compromising on taste or price. Our goal is that by 2025, 50% of main meals offered in the IKEA restaurants will be plant-based and 80% will be non-red meat. Meanwhile, 80% of all packaged food will be plant-based.
Read about more actions we’re taking
Removing and storing carbon through forestry, agriculture and products
The second step in halving our climate footprint is removing CO₂ from the atmosphere through natural processes. This will be done by storing CO₂ in land, plants and products, through better forest and agriculture management within the IKEA value chain. Through a circular economy, we will also ensure that carbon remains stored in our products and materials for longer. We’ll also invest in reforestation and regeneration projects to restore ecosystems and plant more trees.
- Improving sustainable management practices within forestry and agriculture.
- Prolonging the life of products and the carbon storage in renewable materials.
- Projects with WWF on climate-resilient cotton in India and Pakistan.
- 100M EUR
investment in removing and storing carbon
- 98%
of the wood and paper used for IKEA products is either FSC-certified or recycled
New Forest Positive Agenda for 2030
During 2020, we worked on the development of our new Forest Positive Agenda for 2030 to ramp up the work to further enhance biodiversity, support the livelihoods of people who depend on forests and mitigate climate change.
Read about more actions we’re taking
Going beyond IKEA
To finally become climate positive, and reduce more greenhouse gases than the IKEA value chain emits, we will go beyond IKEA and contribute to additional reductions in society. We will achieve this by enabling customers to generate renewable energy at home and transforming our suppliers’ entire operations to renewable energy; not just the part used in IKEA productions.
In addition, we will enable investments towards a fair and resilient net-zero society, and drive a strong advocacy agenda to encourage supportive legislation. Partnerships and collaboration are a cornerstone of the IKEA way of doing business, and in order to tackle climate change this is more important than ever.
Home Solar. Democratising clean energy.
We want to empower as many people as possible to produce and use clean energy and play a part in creating a better future for the planet. Learn more about how far we’ve come on our journey.
Why IKEA wants a global definition of Climate Positive
It is vital that we work to globally recognised and independently verified standards. At COP25, IKEA and WWF initiated a dialogue with companies, policymakers and NGOs to develop a global definition of what “Climate Positive” means. This discussion has continued and will be followed up at COP26 in Glasgow.
Why IKEA wants a global definition of Climate Positive
