IKEA Building

That big blue building with IKEA written in yellow letters on it is trying to help the environment. It was announced last week the IKEA is going to begin charging a nickel for plastic bags. This is all part of their “bag the plastic bag” initiative. They want to discourage the use of plastic bags and donate all revenue to the nonprofit conservation group American Forests. The store is also going to let shoppers walk away with one of their iconic reusable blue bags for 59 cents. But is this how far IKEA’s contribution to the environment goes?

Thomas Bergmark, IKEA’s head of social and environmental responsibility, will answer and help one find out the details behind this unassuming approach.

• IKEA’s initiative in the U.S. with the plastic bags
  • IKEA’s strategy is to be quiet and low-key. They issue a yearly social and environmental report on the web. The “plastic bag” campaign is their first step to be more aggressive and more transparent in these issues.
• IKEA’s view of their obligation to the environment
  • They have always been about creating a better everyday life for the people. In today’s world caring about the people includes caring about the environment. Ever since their company was founded 60 years ago, they have been turning and twisting materials to use them in the best possible way, saving both on material and costs. This attitude has allowed for them to save on resources, thus saving the environment.
• IKEA trying to make their stores greener
  • In the building process the company looks into the land in order to make sure that they aren’t stepping into a protected area for biodiversity. Recently, they are beginning to consider the environmental issues when building new stores. Compared to other retailers, they do a really good job sorting waste and recycling. On an international level they are beginning to focus on energy. They have set all IKEA buildings with renewable energy, and are trying to be 25 percent more energy efficient.
• How IKEA is going to make their renewable energy goal
  • They want to produce the energy themselves with the use of solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal heating and cooling.
• Deadline to get to completely renewable energy
  • Their first deadline is in 2009. By then they want their buildings to be 60 percent renewable energy and 15 percent more energy efficient.
• IKEA’s plans to be more environmental friendly in the shipping of goods
  • Currently, they are using flat pack. This allows for the company to save volume and hopefully this extra volume allows for less shipments to be sent. They admit that transportation is a tougher challenge. Because their aren’t any groundbreaking solutions, they are hoping that biofuels will be used in the near future.
• How suppliers act when they find out about social and environmental restrictions
  • Suppliers in Europe and the Americas are positive, while Asia is more resistant.
• IKEA is going to ramp up communications and PR around environmental issues
  • They are going to continue with the blue bag campaign, but won’t do any heavy marketing. Don’t expect to see environmental campaigns on billboards from IKEA.

Thomas Bergmark’s answers about the environment seemed only to have begun taking place. Hopefully, IKEA will keep its promises and really try to improve their stores and transportation in order to make them more environmentally friendly. At least, they are taking a small step in the right direction with the “bag the plastic bag” initiative. IKEA has a good idea of what they want to do to help the environment, now let’s hope they do it.

Sources:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17385270/

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/about_ikea/social_environmental/uk_environment_and_social_responsibility.html

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070220/nytu069.html?.v=81

Picture Source:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Ikeav%C3%A4ster%C3%A5s.JPG