IKEA has committed to removing single-use plastic products from its home furnishing range globally by 1 January 2020 – including plastic straws, plates, cups, freezer bags, garbage bags and plastic-coated paper plates and cups.
IKEA recognises that single-use plastic can harm wildlife and pollute oceans and waterways when it is not disposed of responsibly. We are determined to play our part and take responsibility in the areas where we can make a difference.
The announcement came as part of Democratic Design Days in Älmhult, Sweden, where IKEA product developers displayed home furnishings made from innovative and recycled materials, as well as solutions that enable people to live a more sustainable everyday life. The IKEA team also launched a new People and Planet Positive sustainability strategy, which sets the direction for all IKEA franchisees in three focus areas: Healthy & Sustainable living, Circular & Climate Positive**, Fair and Equal
The business aims to be climate positive by 2030 – meaning it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than the value chain emits. To do this, IKEA plans to:
Design all IKEA products with new circular principles, with the goal to only use renewable and recycled materials while also enabling products to be repurposed, repaired, reused, resold, and recycled - generating as little waste as possible.
Pack products in materials that renewable and/or recycled
Phase out virgin fossil plastic from products
Increase the proportion of plant-based choices in the IKEA food offer.
Inter IKEA Group CEO, Torbjoern Loeoef said: "Our ambition is to become people and planet positive by 2030 while growing the IKEA business. Through our size and reach we have the opportunity to inspire and enable more than one billion people to live better lives, within the limits of the planet."
"Change will only be possible if we collaborate with others and nurture entrepreneurship. We are committed to taking the lead working together with everyone – from raw material suppliers all the way to our customers and partners."
IKEA Southeast Asia, the franchisee that owns and operates IKEA stores in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, is contributing to the global ambition through its operation and long term commitments to:
Increase energy efficiency, generate renewable energy and increase its share of renewable energy consumption
Contribute zero waste to landfill
Secure responsibly sourced supply chain for products and services
Build and renovate IKEA stores and IKEA-anchored Shopping Centres to meet sustainable certified standards
Support at least one social enterprise for every market
Enable and inspire our co-workers, customers, visitors and community to live a healthier and more sustainable life
"It takes grit and determination to build a sustainable business, and we are on the way. We are actively integrating sustainability into every function and all aspects of our everyday work," said IKEA Southeast Asia Sustainability and Communication Director Lars Svensson. "Most importantly, we are inviting our customers to join us in the journey. Through our solutions, we hope to see millions more people take little steps at home to save energy, reduce and recycle waste and conserve water."
The mapping of products the plastic products impacted by the decision to eliminate single-use plastics is ongoing. Products include: SODA drinking straws, SÖTVATTEN drinking straws, FÖRNYBAR freezer bags (3 different colours) and ISIGA ice-cube bags