IKEA is taking a significant step to adopt renewable energy, aiming to slash its emissions by 50% by 2030. This ambitious goal, announced on January 25, marks a considerable increase from its previous target of 15%, which it exceeded in 2023. IKEA’s commitment to environmental sustainability continues to be at the forefront of its strategy.

IKEA’s efforts are directed towards transforming its business and value chain to significantly reduce its climate footprint. The company’s approach is anchored in a commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and to become net-zero by 2050.

The world’s biggest furniture brand has outlined three primary climate goals: drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, removing and storing carbon through various means, and extending responsibility beyond its own operations to encompass customers, suppliers, and sourcing.

Inter Ikea, responsible for product manufacturing and franchise operations, is focusing on reducing greenhouse gasses across its entire chain. This spans from raw material sourcing to product disposal by customers. The new 50% target is benchmarked against its 2016 financial year, a significant jump from the 15% goal set in 2017.

In the latest financial year, IKEA reduced its emissions by 12% as an increasing number of its manufacturing facilities adopt renewable energy.

“It’s still going to be challenging and a lot of hard work, but there is at least a realism in the goal of 50 per cent,” Par Stenmark, chief sustainability officer at Inter Ikea, told Reuters in an interview.

Inter Ikea said emissions were estimated at 24.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023, down from 27.2 million tonnes in the previous fiscal year.

Key to this achievement was the transition of an additional 142 IKEA-owned and supplier factories to 100% renewable electricity. IKEA’s material usage, particularly wood, remains the largest contributor to its emissions. However, initiatives like using cornstarch-based glue in wood board manufacturing demonstrate IKEA’s commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions.

Image Source: Intelligent Living