IKEA has announced plans to be “climate positive” by 2030, which means it will cut down on more greenhouse gas emissions than it produces across the whole supply chain.
In 2018, IKEA produced around 27 million metric tons of carbon emissions. Key sources include:
- Raw materials for furniture (~36%)
How customers use IKEA furniture and items at home (~20%)
Customers going to and from IKEA stores (~15%)
Longer-Lasting Furniture & Reusing Materials
The company uses roughly 18 million cubic meters of wood per year, which is equal to over 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Though the wood mainly comes from FSC-certified forests, sustainable sourcing doesn’t go a long way if the furniture has a short lifespan.
To address this, IKEA is redesigning several products to make them last longer, easily fixable, and recyclable. The design team is looking at all of its products, from paper napkins and cutlery to sofas and beds, to decide if they should be repurposed or recycled.
IKEA is also trying to reuse more raw materials through furniture buy-back programs, leasing options, and plans to make items easier to disassemble. The goal is to create a circular economy where used materials funnel back into the system. But this can only be successful if customers are willing to bring their items back to IKEA stores instead of throwing them away. Educating customers about the benefits of opting for the buy-back programs is key.
Other Initiatives
In terms of operations, IKEA is putting an end to single-use plastic sales and reducing emissions from truck transportation. The company is also testing out zero-emissions deliveries.
IKEA’s suppliers play a major role in emissions as well. As an incentive, IKEA is investing €200 million to help its suppliers make the leap to renewable energy sources and restore forests.
Paving The Way for Sustainability
IKEA’s self-imposed deadline of 2030 to become “climate positive” is an aggressive one. Other large retailers, like H&M are also aiming for similar goals, but setting their deadlines closer to 2040.
It will not be easy for IKEA, a large company with a global presence, to achieve sustainability. But if it is successful, IKEA could pave the way for other businesses to fight climate change.
Reference:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90448729/how-ikea-plans-to-be-climate-positive-by-2030
