IKEA, a leading sustainable company, will hold a store tour in June to introduce its latest initiatives. This is a rare opportunity to enter the backyard, which is normally off-limits to outsiders.
IKEA will hold a “Sustainable Store Tour” exclusively for IKEA Family members at 9 large stores in June, which is Environment Month.
IKEA has set a goal of becoming “climate positive” by 2030 by reducing more greenhouse gases than it emits. What activities is the company doing on a regular basis to achieve this extremely ambitious goal?
On May 25th, a press tour was held at IKEA Shinmisato (Misato City, Saitama Prefecture). We’ve had a sneak peek at the store tours, from rooftops and showrooms to the usually “staff-only” backyard.
12% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2022
This time, for the press, at the beginning of the tour, IKEA Japan CEO and CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) Petra Farre and others introduced IKEA’s sustainability strategy and the latest version of the sustainability report released on the day. bottom.
IKEA’s overall climate footprint in 2022 is 25.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, 12% less than in 2016. Despite the record high sales in 2021, the reduction was 5.8% compared to the same period, but the reduction was significantly higher.
Petra Farre, CEO and CSO of IKEA Japan. The white smock-like outfit looks like a Japanese-style kappogi. When I asked if she was conscious, she said, “She didn’t notice at all,” she said surprisingly. She said that she belongs to the Swedish brand, the birthplace of IKEA, and she said with a smile, “You can see how Sweden is influenced by Japanese fashion.”
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“Sustainable Shop” in a corner of the showroom
At the “Sustainable Shop” located in one corner of the 2nd floor showroom, you can find IKEA’s most sustainable and reasonably priced products.
A sustainable shop located in a corner of the showroom on the second floor.
IKEA will end handling single-use batteries in 2021. Currently, we sell rechargeable batteries that can be recharged up to 500-1000 times.
Since 2015, IKEA has switched all light bulbs it sells to LED bulbs. The life of the Solhetta LED bulb (pictured) is 25,000 hours. In 2022, the series expanded in size, shape, and function, and sold 62 million units.
Proposal of “sustainable living” even in room sets
One of the features of IKEA Shinmisato is that there are 48 “room sets” that coordinate rooms with IKEA products. In terms of scale, it boasts the top class among IKEA.
Among them, there is also a room set with the theme of sustainable living, and various ideas are proposed.
A room set that proposes a sustainable life.
Suggestions for a kitchen that saves energy and water.
There are also tips on how to reduce and save garbage, and how to keep things in order to avoid wasting resources.
The reality of recycling seen in the backyard
Finally, to the “staff-only” backyard where outsiders are usually not allowed to enter. I wonder what kind of ingenuity IKEA has in the sorting and recycling of cardboard and other items.
At IKEA, thermal recycling
is excluded from the definition of recycling. We aim to achieve a recycling rate of 100% by 2030 through material recycling
and the use of compost.
*Thermal recycling: Recovering the exhaust heat generated when incinerating waste and reusing it as energy.
Currently, IKEA Japan’s recycling rate is 73%. The Shin-Misato store separates waste into 32 items, 21 of which are recycled.
Cardboard is IKEA’s largest waste product. The photo shows the amount for a day on weekdays. We strive to reduce CO2 emissions associated with transportation by compressing with a compressor installed at each store and reducing the number of transportations.
Some of the cardboard is recycled into cushioning materials using a machine installed in the store. In addition to being provided free of charge to those who purchased at the store, it is also used when packing products for the online store.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour recycle backyard
Circular market that “extends product life”
circular market
IKEA Japan started a furniture purchase service in 2017. So far, he has bought more than 38,000 pieces and “passed the baton to the next owner.”
At IKEA’s “Circular Market”, you can sell exhibits and discontinued products that are no longer used at reasonable prices. You can watch furniture repair and maintenance by co-workers (IKEA calls them “co-workers”), as well as workshops on sustainable living.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour circular market parts
Spare parts such as nuts, bolts and screws are lined up in the backyard of the circular market. IKEA provides spare parts free of charge so that products can be used for a long time, and in 2022, more than 21.5 million parts were provided worldwide, and IKEA Japan provided 18,271 parts.
A row of 1080 solar panels
When I went to the roof, the solar panels lined up in a row jumped into my eyes.
We are actively promoting energy-saving measures, and plan to reduce energy consumption by 40% from 2010 levels by 2030 globally. IKEA Japan has achieved a 40% reduction in 2022.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour rooftop solar power
There are 1,080 solar panels on the roof of the Shinmisato store. Monitors are installed at the store entrance and office to display the status of power supply from solar panels in real time.
All delivery vehicles will be EVs by 2025
*Last mile: The section from the final logistics base (distribution center, store, etc.) to the delivery of the product to the end user.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour rooftop EV
Currently, IKEA Japan has introduced a total of seven EVs, including Shinmisato and Kohoku stores (Yokohama), and transportation companies.
Tasting time full of “sustainable food”
It was a parade of sustainable foods, such as the blockbuster “Plant Ball” made from pea-derived protein and vegetables, and stewed dishes made only with plant-derived ingredients.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour plantball
During the press tour, in addition to the very popular plant balls, you can sample IKEA’s proud sustainable food, such as the improved plant-based banana and chili stew “Flying Jacob-san” (right). By the way, “Flying Jakob-san” is not IKEA’s own name, but the name of a Swedish home cooking that has been popular for a long time.
IKEA emphasizes providing sustainable products at affordable prices, based on the idea that “it’s impossible to be expensive because we care about the environment.”
The food menu is no exception. For example, “Swedish meatballs” using beef and pork are 790 yen, while plant balls are 490 yen. A “hot dog” with pork sausage is 100 yen, and a soy-based “veggie dog” is 80 yen (all tax included).
Regarding pricing that overturns this common sense, IKEA Japan CEO and CSO Petra Farre said
said.
ikea japan shinmisato sustainable tour shrimp salmon
A glass salad made with internationally certified sustainable shrimp and farmed salmon. Although small, the volume is sufficient. At the “Sustainable Food Fair” that is being held until July 2nd, you can eat it for an amazingly low price of 450 yen (the menu offered varies depending on the store).
- The sustainable store tour will be held for 4 days from June 3rd to 4th and June 10th to 11th at 9 large stores out of 12 stores in Japan, excluding Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku (pre-registration required).
- The content of the tour varies depending on the store, but the IKEA Shinmisato store tour is scheduled to include the following. Don’t forget to check out the plant-based food tasting and the recycling area, which you can’t usually enter.
- Ideas and products that realize living in a sustainable home (2nd floor showroom)
Source: BusinessInsider
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