One way we aim to reach this is by developing all products using the IKEA circular product design principles and continuously improving our ways of working with sustainability in the IKEA Democratic Design approach. Democratic Design is a method we use to develop products that are more sustainable, beautiful, functional and high quality at the lowest price possible – good design that’s accessible to the many people.
Our commitments:
Inspiring and enabling people to live healthier, more sustainable lives
Today, people with thin wallets have the hardest time affording solutions for healthy and sustainable living. IKEA has a real possibility to change this. Our scale and reach enable efficient production and distribution, and the ability to influence healthier and more sustainable behaviours. Based on research and our knowledge about life at home, we are developing affordable, complete home furnishing solutions that can improve people’s everyday health, wellbeing and ability to live within the boundaries of the planet.
Designing for the healthy and sustainable home
The home of the future won’t simply be about basic physical functions; it will be vital for our mental and physical health. We will go beyond meeting current demand, to offer new and more sustainable solutions to more of the many people.
The focus is on solutions related to:
- Clean energy, air and water
- Resource-efficient living and reducing waste
- Healthy eating, sleeping and exercising
- 9,500+
9,500 products have now been assessed for their circular capabilities
- 50%
By 2025, 50% of the main meals offered at IKEA restaurants will be plant-based
Innovation is key in our water saving solutions
Around 10% of global fresh water is consumed in people’s homes, and that number is expected to increase across the world. We are constantly working on developing more ways to save water. MISTELN water nozzle can reduce water use by up to 90%. This innovative product is expected to be launched in 2022.
Enabling people to have better air at home
Indoor air pollution is a significant health challenge in many parts of the world. We want to play our role both by addressing the root causes and by developing affordable solutions that help improve indoor air at home, like the FÖRNUFTIG air purifier.
Promoting circular and sustainable consumption
To meet the needs and dreams of people today – without compromising those of future generations – we’re continuously improving our ways of working. We want to enable customers to prolong the life of their IKEA products through convenient solutions that inspire them to acquire, care for, and pass them on in circular ways.Designing for circularity
We are designing every product from the very beginning to be reused, refurbished, remanufactured and eventually recycled, by applying our circular product design principles during the product development process.
Becoming circular affects everything we do
We are transforming into a circular business. This means:
- Designing every product from the very beginning to be reused, refurbished, remanufactured and eventually recycled, by applying our circular product design principles during the product development process
- Aiming to only use renewable or recycled materials, by adapting and finding new sources and developing new materials
- Finding circular solutions for existing and new customers to acquire, care for and pass on products
- Taking the lead and joining forces with others through advocacy, collaboration, and business partnerships
We’re bringing more recycled materials into our products
In a world of limited resources, we are moving towards a circular system by increasing our demand for recycled materials. Some product examples are the TIPHEDE rug made with recycled/recovered cotton and SVALLET lamp made with recycled plastic. ANNAKAJSA and BENGTA room darkening curtains are made with recycled polyester, and the NYSKÖLJD drying mat has recently been improved to use 100% recycled fabric and piping.
IKEA buys back from customers
A growing number of IKEA markets buy back IKEA furniture from customers who no longer need it and re-sell these good-quality second-hand items to new customers. In FY20, furniture leasing models were tested in six European markets in our efforts to explore more circular ways for customers to use, care for and pass on their IKEA furniture.
Inspiring healthier, more sustainable choices
Eating a plant-based diet is one of the most significant actions an individual can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A consumer survey from 2020 showed that a considerable number of meat-eaters would be willing to switch to plant-based alternatives (41%) if it tastes equally good and has the same price and nutritional value. That is why we at IKEA focus on increasing the share of plant-based alternatives and on making plant-based alternatives nutritious and delicious, and presenting and communicating them in a way that inspires customers to choose these products.
Creating a movement in society around better everyday living
People around the world are becoming more concerned about their health, as well as the health of the planet. We’ll lead the movement towards a healthy and sustainable future, engaging co-workers, customers, partners and citizens while sharing knowledge and inspiration.Phasing out and replacing products
To contribute to a more sustainable society, we have been phasing out and replacing products with new, innovative solutions for many years. Our ambition is to continue to be ahead of legislation to phase out products and materials that no longer align with our understanding of healthy and sustainable living. We are also working with other businesses to transform our industry, advocating for better policies, strategies and regulations.
It’s time to re-think (and recharge) batteries
In FY20, we committed to phasing out non-rechargeable alkaline batteries from our global range by October, 2021. The aim is to inspire and enable frequent users of batteries to reduce waste and save money over time by switching to rechargeable batteries.
