One way we aim to reach this is by developing our 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. More than 9,500 products ranging from furniture to home furnishing accessories, have been assessed for their circular capabilities.
Designing for circularity
We will design 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.
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.
Solutions for a healthy and sustainable home
The focus is on solutions related to:
- Clean energy, air and water
- Resource-efficient living and reducing waste
- Healthy eating, sleeping and exercising
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. ÅBÄCKEN water nozzle can reduce water use by up to 95%.
IKEA introduces ÅBÄCKEN water nozzle to enable extreme water saving at home
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 STARKVIND air purifier.
Inspiring healthier, more sustainable choices
Eating a plant-based diet is one of the most significant actions an individual can take to reduce their climate footprint. 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. Our goal is that 50% of main meals offered in our restaurants will be plant-based by 2025.
Maria on changing our ways of looking at nutrition
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.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
Establishing and developing the IKEA Core Circular Customer Offer
Over the years, we’ve conducted and reported on numerous circular customer service offers in various markets. In FY22, using insights from these experiences, we created the IKEA Core Circular Customer Offer. With this, we’re developing ways to make it possible for customers to extend the lifespans of their products and maintain the value of the materials in their products for longer.
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 October 2021, we began phasing out non-rechargeable alkaline batteries from our global range. The aim is to enable our customers to reduce waste and save money over time by switching to rechargeable batteries.
Limiting food waste
In FY22 we achieved our goal of reducing food waste from IKEA restaurants globally by 50% by the end of 2022 compared to FY17 baseline.
