Ikea has announced a new scheme in which it will buy back customers’ old or unwanted Ikea furniture.

The furniture sold to Ikea will then be available to buy second hand in UK stores, allowing other customers to give the pieces a new home.

It will be sold from the the “as-is” area of stores and anything that does not sell will be recycled. 

Customers who sell their items back to Ikea will receive a refund card to spend in store. The card will have no expiry date, as part of Ikea’s push to encourage customers to only buy new furniture when they really need it.

Depending on the condition of the furniture, the voucher could be worth between 30% and 50% of the original retail price. 

Products eligible for the scheme include dressers, bookcases and shelving units, dining tables and desks.

Customers wishing to sell their items back to Ikea can submit them for consideration by filling in an online form. 

The initiative, which launches on November 27, is part of Ikea’s push to become fully circular and climate positive by 2030.

UK retail manager and chief sustainability officer Peter Jelkeby said: “Sustainability is the defining issue of our time and Ikea is committed to being part of the solution to promote sustainable consumption and combat climate change.

“With the launch of ‘Buy Back’ we are giving a second life to many more Ikea products, and creating more easy and affordable solutions to help people live more sustainably. It is an exciting step forward in our journey towards becoming a fully circular and climate positive business by 2030.”