Guided by its founder Ingvar Kamprad who said, “We will move ahead only by constantly asking ourselves how what we are doing today can be done better tomorrow”, it is IKEA’s vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. The company aims to address global challenges through four key initiatives: improving housing access, enhancing lives, promoting environmental responsibility, and ensuring sustainability for future generations. In its five-year presence in India, IKEA has not only strengthened its bond with Indian households through its products but has also prioritized sustainability across its entire value chain, from sourcing to retail operations.
Better Homes
Globally, IKEA aims to inspire and enable 1 billion people to live a better everyday life within the boundaries of the planet by 2030. With over 80 years of home furnishing and life at home expertise, IKEA innovates to meet people’s needs with affordable, accessible, and sustainable products, services, and solutions.
In line with its commitment to customers, the IKEA range features products designed to facilitate sustainable living practices at home. IKEA’s product range supports sustainable living habits, emphasizing energy and resource savings. In FY23, the company expanded its Sustainable Living Shops within stores, showcasing energy-efficient products like LED bulbs like SOLHETTA and air purifiers like UPPÅTVIND. Additionally, products such as the ÅBÄCKEN water nozzle and food storage options like KORKEN jars and bottles, as well as ÖVERMÄTT containers, promote water conservation and help reduce food wastage, aligning with IKEA’s commitment to sustainability. IKEA’s commitment to sustainability is evident in initiatives like switching to LED lights, known for their energy efficiency, and offering products like cellular window blinds and blackout curtains to reduce energy consumption, particularly during hot months.
Adept with the needs of Indian households, IKEA offers product ranges designed to enhance efficiency in daily living keeping sustainability at its core. Aligned with India’s requirements, IKEA provides popular storage solutions such as IKEA365+ glass containers, KORKEN jars, OVERMATT silicone covers, and lunch boxes, as well as waste sorting bins like HALLBAR and SORTERA. With growing awareness of persistent air pollution in the market, IKEA also offers air purifiers from the STARKVIND or FORNUFTIG product lines, designed for easy filter cleaning and replacement.
Food being one of the most critical customer delight touchpoints and intrinsic to India’s social culture, IKEA emphasizes healthier, locally sourced plant-based options to support regional agriculture. Partnerships with Rainforest Alliance-certified farms ensure sustainable sourcing, fostering environmental conservation.
Better Planet
IKEA aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its stores and operations by 80% by 2030, showcasing the company’s commitment to resource efficiency. By 2025, IKEA aims for 100% zero-emission home deliveries, transitioning to eco-friendly vehicles and optimizing routes to combat climate change. The company also targets integrating 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
IKEA stores and warehouses are equipped with energy-efficient lighting systems, heating, and cooling technologies showcasing company’s dedication towards energy efficiency. By utilizing renewable energy sources and advanced building designs, IKEA reduces carbon footprint across its operations.
Sourcing sustainably, IKEA collaborates with partners prioritizing eco-friendly materials and methods that extend IKEA’s sustainability promise to a larger impact ecosystem. Looking ahead, IKEA aims to introduce circular product lines, wherein all materials used are recycled or biodegradable.
Reducing non-recyclable waste in IKEA’s retail operations is crucial. Additionally, the zero discharge facilities in all IKEA blue box stores reflect their dedication to reducing, recycling and reusing wastewater.
Better Lives
People are at the heart of everything at IKEA. In addition to its environmental initiatives, IKEA champions fairness and equality ensuring equal opportunities, workplace diversity, and fair wages regardless of gender. With a belief that a better every day is an equal every day, IKEA is committed to fair treatment and equal opportunities.
IKEA aims to positively impact everyone it touches, including supporting the communities where it operates, where employees and customers reside. The IKEA in the Neighbourhoods framework seeks to create lasting social impact near our stores and meeting places. This initiative focuses on three key areas: improving access to better homes, fostering pathways to decent work, and enabling greater community participation.
Better Company
IKEA advocates fair and inclusive practices, ensuring high social and environmental standards across the value chain through compliance with IWAY, their supplier code of conduct.
The IKEA Foundation, an independent philanthropy, is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children by enabling their families to create sustainable livelihoods and address climate change. An exemplary initiative by the IKEA Foundation involves supporting the SELCO Foundation’s ‘Energy for Health’ program in India, which aims to power 25,000 healthcare facilities across 12 states with solar energy by 2026. By prioritizing renewable energy access for impoverished communities, IKEA Foundation promotes inclusivity and affordability.
IKEA has successfully demonstrated how sustainability, affordability and quality co-exist in its value chain. By prioritizing sustainable materials, waste reduction, and energy efficiency, IKEA continues to lead by example with the hope to inspire the industry, resulting in a more sustainable and conscious furnishings market.