On October 24th, 2006, the EnviroStars program honored IKEA - the local Renton store and the global corporation headquartered in Sweden - with the EnviroStars Recognized Leader distinction for its environmental leadership.
IKEA has actively demonstrated the philosophy that good business goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility, and that limiting a corporation’s ecological footprint is an essential element of today's successful business model. By awarding IKEA with this distinction, the EnviroStars program aims to illustrate to businesses within the region that effective business leaders are embracing the incorporation of sustainable practices and realizing positive impacts to their bottom lines. |
IKEA is a privately owned company, operates over 200 stores worldwide, employs 80,000 staff, and sells 10,000 products from 1,600 suppliers in 55 countries. IKEA is committed to conducting business in an environmentally responsible manner, and utilizes “The Natural Step” process to guide its efforts. The Seattle-area store (located in Renton, Wash.) has achieved great success with this model, leading sales revenues and finishing in the top 5 nationwide for environment and recovery.
In reducing its ecological footprint, IKEA:
- Mandates its suppliers adhere to the same strict social and environmental standards through its "IWAY” protocols and audits
- Closely monitors hazardous substances used to create the IKEA product line, eliminating a number of high priority chemicals entirely
- Designs products to minimize waste, energy use, packaging and product transportation
- Repurposes waste materials to make usable products
- Produces catalogues from chlorine-free pulp paper
- Offers customers free recycling for fluorescent lamps, batteries and holiday trees
- Implements in-store environmental education activities and encourages customers and coworkers to participate in recycling, Earth Day and other environmental programs
IKEA seeks to limit – and eventually eliminate – hazardous chemicals used to create the IKEA product line. For example:
- Chlorofluorocarbons/CFCs (banned)
- Polyvinylchloride/PVCs (nearly eliminated)
- Azo-dyes (banned)
- Flame retardants/PBDEs (banned)
- Formaldehyde (closely regulated)
- Solvent-borne lacquers (reduced 80% in children's products)
IKEA has implemented a number of creative initiatives to meet their waste reduction and repurposing goals:
In 1996, the local IKEA store launched “IKEA GREEN,” a recycling effort seeking to reduce the amount of materials hauled to the landfill by 95 percent. Through this program and other initiatives, IKEA is able to recycle 90 percent of its waste. In the past year alone, IKEA in Renton has removed 600 tons of wood, plastic, cardboard, paper, metal and aluminum from the landfill.
Worldwide, IKEA is consistently recognized for its excellence in spreading an ethic of environmentally responsible business practices and support for environmentally responsible businesses. Efforts include:
- Hiring recycling coordinators, recovery and other environmentally-driven staff members
- Incorporating environmental messages into coworker training programs, supply chain requirements and consumer marketing materials
- Presenting at events such as the Washington State Recycling Association and the Home Show
- Participating in global forest initiatives through the Forest Stewardship Council, Global Forest Watch and Sow-a-Seed Foundation
“The IKEA Way of Purchasing Home Furnishing Products,” or IWAY, was established in 2000 to ensure that IKEA works only with suppliers that support its business philosophies and values. This set of rules outlines progressive requirements in a variety of areas, including:
- Working conditions, child labor practices and discrimination rules
- Minimum wages, overtime rates and trade union representation rights
- Waste management, chemical management and emissions to air and water
- Adherence to forest preservation rules and timber laws
The Seattle area IKEA is creating a commute reduction program based on the results of a recent survey of all coworkers asking about their transportation choices and incentive preferences.
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