IKEA's Social and Environmental Responsibility Initiatives

<< Previous

Excerpts Contd...

Reducing the waste it generated and the management of that waste were important issues for IKEA. The company has been moving towards these goals by recycling wastes, repairing damaged products and reusing packaging material (Refer Table I for the Percentage of Wastes that are recycled or reused for energy production in IKEA).

This helped not just in saving resources, but also bringing in considerable monetary savings for the company. Each IKEA store had an 'environmental coordinator' who worked towards waste recycling and energy conservation, and also trained employees on environmental aspects. In addition, the environmental coordinator organized educational programs for IKEA customers to understand the importance of the environment and to showcase IKEA's contribution in this area. Each IKEA store had a separate compactor for collecting non-recyclable waste such as cardboard and plastic. Once these wastes were segregated, they were sent to the production department to see how they could be reused...

IKEA consumed a huge amount of energy for electricity, heating and air conditioning of its stores and warehouses. The company was trying to consciously reduce its energy consumption. In 2003, IKEA launched a 'Kill-a-Watt-Energy Saving Competition.'

The competition was open to all IKEA stores across the world. IKEA aimed to achieve reduction in energy consumption and also to create awareness among employees regarding electricity costs. By the end of the competition, IKEA had saved energy equivalent to providing electricity to 2,000 households, or two IKEA stores for a year. The competition was won by the IKEA store at Ho Chi Minn City in Vietnam. This store reduced its electricity consumption by 33%. It did so by installing a system that automatically switched off electrical appliances and shut down air conditioning systems after working hours. IKEA also made use of alternative energy sources to obtain electricity. The store in Pittsburgh, US had solar electric panels on the roof...

IKEA had a global web of 2,000 suppliers spread across 55 countries. To further its commitment towards the environment and society, IKEA launched 'The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products (IWAY)' in September 2000. The IWAY established the 'code of conduct' for IKEA's suppliers to adhere to (Refer Table II for more details on Code of Conduct for suppliers). The IWAY focused on legal compliance, working conditions of employees and environmental compliance...

Exhibit I: Facts on IKEA
Exhibit II: IKEA's Foray Into Foreign Countries
Exhibit III: Achievements of IKEA-UNICEF-CREDA Project
Exhibit IV: The Natural Step
Exhibit V: Green Steps Taken by IKEA
Exhibit VI: IKEA's Environmental Initiatives at Renton
Exhibit VII: Carbon Dioxide Emission from IKEA Operations in Europe
Exhibit VIII: Mode of Transport Employed by Ikea in Europe
Exhibit IX: IKEA's Public Transport Requirements
Exhibit X: Top Five Countries Supplying Raw Material to IKEA
Exhibit XI: Project Activities Initiated by IKEA and WWF in China

---

Custom Search

---

Business Ethics and Corporate Governance Textbook Textbooks Collection	Business Ethics and Corporate Governance Workbook Workbooks Collection	Case Studies in Business Ethics - Vol. I Case Study Volumes Collection