Ikea has slashed its carbon footprint by boosting its use of renewable energy and offering more plant-based food options at the same price or cheaper than meat in stores.
Ikea owner Ingka Group cut its carbon footprint by 6% from the previous year, down 13% on its financial year 2016 baseline.
The home and furniture giant, which published its annual sustainability report today, said it had made significant investments in new and existing stores, renewable energy, zero-emission home deliveries, take-back schemes and its plant-based food options in an effort to become climate positive by 2030.
Ikea UK achieved a 14% absolute reduction in its operational climate footprint over the past year.
Ikea UK sustainability manager Greg Lucas said: “In the UK, we have taken significant steps in the last year to achieve our People & Planet Positive commitments for 2030, including only using renewable electricity and continuing to drive down our operational climate footprint (measured in CO2 emissions), and increasing our recycling rate across the business.”
Globally, Ikea said it had upped its use of renewable energy to 74.2%, an increase from 69.1% the previous year, reduced operational waste by 9.5%, expanded its second-hand and “nearly new” furniture hubs into 306 stores and has now rolled out its sustainable living shops, which showcase eco-friendly products, within its stores across 30 markets.
The retailer also adjusted its pricing model for plant-based food with all markets now offering plant-based alternatives, including meatballs, ice cream and hot dogs, at the same price or cheaper than the meat or dairy-based option as of October.
Ikea has been selling a plant-based version of its meatballs since 2020 and pledged to make half of its menu vegan by 2025. At the end of last year, Ingka Centres – the shopping centre arm of the group Ingka Group – piloted a zero-waste, predominantly plant-based food and drink hall called Saluhall in select locations in China, India and the US.
Ingka Group chief sustainability officer Karen Pflug said: “Throughout the year, we continued to act for a better planet and are pleased to have reduced our climate footprint in our operations and across the Ikea value chain.
“We have been focused on sustainability for many years, and in that time our co-workers have done great work to improve our performance and develop innovative new approaches to social and environmental issues. However, we cannot be complacent because there is still so much to be done and we need to accelerate our people and planet commitments.
“The global challenges that we face as a business and as individuals – rising inequality and the climate crisis – need just as much if not more focus now than ever. We approach these issues with a sense of urgency, staying focused on our long-term goals and working together to create positive change for our business, our customers, our communities and the planet.”
No comments yet