Sustainability Profile - IKEA

IKEA's Vision:
Our vision is 'to create a better everyday life for the many people.'



People I know love IKEA. With good reason too, the furniture giant provides interesting, quality items with quirky names like, LAXVIK and VIBBYN, for low prices (But they add up!). Usually when I hear, "At low prices," I think 'ok, but at what cost?' IKEA see this different and makes it know in their tag line, "Low Price But Not At Any Price."

Have you seen Walmart: The high cost of low prices?

IKEA also stands for something else which should give buyers confidence in shopping there. They're in it for the long run, they get sustainability. Taking into account products and materials, suppliers, energy and transportation, and community involvement. Yet, only as of late with more talk about "going green," have they been making this known. Here is a brief snippet of their policies and then a list of "chatter" around IKEA on the web.

View the brochure, IKEA- People and the Environment

Products and materials - "we first decide what price the item will have when sold in IKEA stores. However, in offering low prices we must never compromise the quality or safety of IKEA products."

Suppliers -
"trading service offices are responsible for implementation and follow-up of our code of conduct and we have 70 specially trained auditors who audit suppliers."

Energy and transportation -
"we are going to make sure that all IKEA Group stores, warehouses, distribution centres, factories and offices are heated and cooled using renewable fuels such as wind power, solar power, biofuels and geothermal energy."

Community involvement -
"Our projects take a holistic approach: improving the health of women and children, creating access to a quality education, and empowering women to create a better future for themselves and their communities."

Blogs Buzzing about IKEA
Ecologic- Too Bad IKEA Doesn’t Sell….Solar Panels?
EcoGeek- Get Your Futon, and Solar Panels, at IKEA - 13 August 2008
Ecocurious - Sustainable shelves, furniture and flooring - 26 July 2008
Treehugger- IKEA Lighting The Way To Warmer LED Lamps

I like IKEA as the "Quite Green Leader," and I hope they continue to drive their supply chain towards sustainability. It will help other small scale furniture companies develop sustainability initiatives. I also hope they increase their transparency with their initiative as it helps others develop a guiding light for their own companies.