IKEA Group releases 2011 Sustainability Report

IKEA Reports on Ongoing Commitment to Doing Better Business

BURLINGTON, ON, Feb. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - The 2011 IKEA Sustainability Report, released today, outlines the sustainability work carried out on a global level by the IKEA Group during FY 2011*, including key performance indicators to show results against targets.

"The IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people - influences how we develop our range and run our business. Having our roots in the harsh province of Småland, Sweden has taught us the importance of economising with resources which is at the core of our sustainability work," says Mikael Ohlsson, President and CEO, IKEA Group. "We want to enable our customers to live a more sustainable life at home in an easy, affordable and accessible way. At the same time, we continue to strengthen our positive impact on society."

"IKEA's sense of urgency around sustainability has intensified and we are continuing to push ourselves to do even more," says Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Group.  "We are working hard to secure more renewable energy, protect raw materials, and drive innovation to eliminate waste - choosing instead to create new, valuable resources. And we are making good progress."

IKEA has a long history of working with sustainability, focusing on creating more from less, striving for the highest ethical standards and being a good partner in society. IKEA is a founding member of both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Better Cotton Initiative, and has maintained successful partnerships with UNICEF, Save the Children and WWF for a decade or more. The IKEA code of conduct for suppliers, IWAY, was launched in 2000 - to date, over 165,000 environmental and social improvements have been recorded, making a difference to people's lives and the environment around the world. Sustainability is part of IKEA culture and value base, and is integrated in every part of our business.

Highlights from the 2011 Sustainability Report:

• IKEA made major investments in renewable energy, focusing on wind and solar power, moving towards its long-term goal of using 100 percent renewable energy. More than half of the energy needed to power IKEA buildings now comes from renewable sources.
  
  
• Energy efficiency across all IKEA stores improved by an additional 4 percent, mainly through store equipment improvements. This helped IKEA save 6.2 million euro during FY11, demonstrating how sustainability improvements can deliver strong business benefits. We also enable customers to save energy in their homes. During FY11 we sold 168,000 energy efficient induction hobs, nearly half of all kitchen hobs sold at IKEA.
  
  
• The share of more sustainable cotton in the IKEA range increased significantly - up to 50,000 tonnes, representing 23.8 percent of total cotton use at IKEA. IKEA works with WWF and other partners to help cotton farmers in India, Pakistan, China and Turkey to introduce more sustainable cultivation methods. More than 100,000 farmers now use techniques that significantly reduce the need for chemical pesticides, fertilisers and water. This contributes to significant cost reductions and better earnings for farmers.
  
  
• Total donations from the IKEA Foundation increased to 65 million euro in 2011. Currently funded programmes, run by expert partners such as UNICEF and Save the Children, will benefit an estimated 100 million children. .

"The IKEA approach to sustainability - How we manage sustainability in our business" is a supplement description of how IKEA works with sustainability. Both documents are available on www.IKEA.com on each country site (under About IKEA, People & the Environment).

*The fiscal year (FY) 2011 of IKEA runs from September 1 2010 to August 31 2011.

IKEA offers well-designed and functional home furnishings at affordable prices. Founded in Sweden in 1943, the IKEA Group has 287 stores in 26 countries and 131 000 co-workers committed to our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. Care for people and the environment is integrated in every step of the business. IKEA continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children or the environment. For more information, please visit your country website on www.IKEA.com

Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick
Public Relations Manager,
IKEA Canada
[email protected]