Sustainability governance

Sustainability is an integrated part of the IKEA business and is led from a holistic perspective with an aligned overall direction. Each IKEA business within the IKEA franchise system contributes to the total IKEA sustainability agenda. Key sustainability objectives are monitored and reported on in totality in the IKEA Sustainability Report.

Many IKEA-related polaroid colour images of furniture, lamps, cotton plants, a baby, a freighter, foods on plates and more.

The IKEA sustainability strategy, People & Planet Positive, outlines our ambitions and commitments, creating a common agenda for the IKEA franchise system, and leading together towards 2030. It provides a focus and collaboration for everybody within the IKEA franchise system to contribute to a positive impact on people, society and the planet across the entire value chain. Each part of the IKEA business sets goals, targets and roadmaps to deliver on the strategy. This allows for locally tailored and relevant implementation and activities.

The IKEA sustainability strategy, People & Planet Positive (PDF, 4.3MB)

Sustainability is an integrated part of our business. The total IKEA sustainability agenda is outlined by the Strategic Sustainability Council.

Strategic Sustainability Council

The Strategic Sustainability Council ensures that we share the same positions across the IKEA franchise system, and that we align future developments and commitments, while respecting the independence of the companies in the IKEA franchise system. It focuses on the following:

The IKEA brand’s role in society.
Strategic directions and ambitions across the franchise system, such as always respecting human rights, and our ambitions to become a circular and climate-positive business.
Alignment of IKEA specific sustainability requirements; for example, the requirements included in IWAY, the IKEA way of responsibly procuring products, services, materials and components.

The Strategic Sustainability Council is where representatives from Inter IKEA Group and the franchisees join to describe and follow up on our collective sustainability ambitions. The managing directors of the represented IKEA franchisees and Inter IKEA Group companies (or core businesses) are invited members of the Council. The CEO of Inter IKEA Group is the chair of the Strategic Sustainability Council.

Sustainability working groups

Two people looking closely at the construction of a wooden stool and taking notes while sitting in a sofa next to a window.

Experts on specific topics from Inter IKEA Group and franchisees meet in working groups to share best practices and build knowledge through the IKEA value chain. The working groups discuss and align strategic initiatives and plans to fulfil the IKEA sustainability strategy.

Inter IKEA Group sustainability management

The Inter IKEA Group sustainability management team includes the sustainability managers from the three core businesses: Franchise, Range and Supply. The group is responsible for aligning and developing sustainability ambitions and commitments, and reporting on performance. The group also provides recommendations on strategic business decisions with environmental and social impacts, and prepares content and decisions for the Strategic Sustainability Council.

Ethics and integrity

Two smiling, young IKEA co-workers in blue and yellow clothes, arranging rattan baskets for display in an IKEA store.

The IKEA way of doing business is firmly rooted in the IKEA values and culture. The IKEA values show up in our actions, decisions and behaviours. This behavioural part is the foundation of the way we do business and the way we interact with each other, our business partners and customers. There are three main documents that talk about this approach, including specific business requirements. Even though these three documents are based on the same principles, they are tailored for different audiences and reflect their needs and realities.

The Inter IKEA Group code of conduct

The Inter IKEA Group code of conduct shows behaviours in line with the IKEA values that represent who we are in everything we do, and is aimed at all co-workers working in the Inter IKEA Group companies. The code revolves around ‘doing the right thing and doing things right’, and it helps our co-workers understand what is expected in our work environment: common sense, based on openness, respect, fairness and integrity no matter where or under which circumstance we connect with each other, our business partners and customers.

Inter IKEA Group code of conduct

IConduct

IKEA franchisees must live up to the business requirements to secure responsible business and protect the IKEA brand. These requirements are described in IConduct – the IKEA franchisee code of conduct. IConduct is based on the eight core International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and reference the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, which support our commitment to respect human rights.

IWAY

The IKEA way of responsibly procuring products, services, materials and components (IWAY) is the IKEA supplier code of conduct. IWAY sets requirements and ways of working on environmental, social and working conditions and animal welfare for all IKEA suppliers and service providers.

Creating a sustainable IKEA value chain with IWAY

Raise a concern environment

The Inter IKEA Group way of doing business is based on a culture of high integrity. We promote an open culture of trust and honest communication, also when conversations are difficult. We have a strong focus on our feedback culture and focus on building trustful relationships at work. Sometimes people could end up in situations where it is impossible to solve it directly or with the manager. For those instances, we offer a Raising Concern Line, available by phone and web in local languages.