Ikea Grows Sustainability Initiatives with New ‘People & Planet Positive’ Strategy

Ikea, which has been working for a number of years to increase its energy efficiency, while at the same time preserve the environment, has just released a new sustainability strategy, People & Planet Positive.

The strategy incorporates a new set of goals expected to be achieved by 2020, including converting all lighting to LED that the company expects will last for 20 years and use up to 85 percent less electricity.

Ikea also says that it’s working on “becoming energy and resource independent, which includes producing as much renewable energy as is consumed in Ikea Group stores and buildings,” including allocating $1.8 billion (€ 1.5 billion) to wind and solar projects.

In the United States, Ikea has already increased its number of solar installations to 34 buildings, with five more underway. The company says this will represent a “90 percent solar presence in the U.S.”

Also supporting consumer efforts to be energy efficient, the company has installed 33 electric vehicle charging stations at nine stores across the western U.S.

Around the world, Ikea also says that it will go beyond the immediate reach of its supply chain and help support human rights.

Ikea says as part of contributing to the quality of life of the people and communities where it operates, it plans to only use renewable energy in its operations and implement initiatives including working to “turn waste into resources.”

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