Ikea has partnered with sustainability charity The Ellen MacArthur Foundation in a bid to reduce product waste and ultimately become a circular business by 2030.

The “strategic partnership” will allow Ikea to develop its circular thinking, promote circular designs to its dessign teams, advocate for legislation to “accelerate the transition to a circular economy”, and advertise circular offers to its customers.

The goal of the partnership is to ensure that all products made and sold by the homewears giant will eliminate waste by the year 2030. 

Ikea said it has already made progress in its ambitions, with 60% of its products made from renewable materials such as wood and cotton, and 10% made from recycled materials. In the 2019 financial year, the Swedish furniture retailer also refurbished and resold sofas to test its circular capabilities.

Ikea’s chief sustainability officer Lena Pripp-Kovac said: ”To become circular is one of our big ambitions and challenges for the future. It is a transformational shift for our entire business. Our goal is to give products and materials a longer life through reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and, as a last option, recycling.

”We believe this requires leadership and collaboration. We are very happy to work with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to both advance our own transition and to make the circular economy a central part of the home furnishing industry. One of our first projects together will be to develop a global common dictionary on circular economy that can support an industry-wide transition.”

Andrew Morlet, chief executive at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said: “We are delighted to partner with Ikea, who share our belief that through the circular economy, businesses can play a vital role in meeting many of the challenges we face today, such as climate change, waste and pollution.

“The circular economy empowers businesses to rethink how they create value, in ways that benefit the environment, society, and the economy. This is an exciting opportunity to help transform an industry that is not only a significant part of the global economy, but has such a strong, personal connection to individuals and communities around the world.”

Ikea reopened its English stores today as lockdown regulations shifted, with many stores being met by large queues of customers. 

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