IKEA releases Sustainability Report 2010

IKEA announced today that it has released its annual Sustainability report for the year 2010. The report notes key achievements that it has done across its sustainability practice, and sheds light on the wide range of initiatives that IKEA has led, and took part in.

At IKEA, sustainability has been viewed from a strategic standpoint and rooted in a broader understanding of the inter-relationship between its operation and the society it operates from. IKEA has had a long journey with sustainability which forms one of the four cornerstones of IKEA store’s overall growth plans.

Working in different segments under the corporate social responsibility framework, IKEA store’s persistent hard work within various environment and social segments have started to show results. The IKEA Foundation, for example, has decided to invest an additional 7.5 million euro in UNICEF’s water and sanitation program in India. This support will help expand the scope of this program in 15 states.

With global economies expanding faster, living a sustainable life has become more important than ever before and it is IKEA store’s constant endeavor to explore creative ways to identify and present sustainable products and solutions. The aim of the store is to preferably have zero environment impact and generate zero waste and zero carbon.

IKEA 2010 Sustainability Report also highlights the key priorities and overall goals for 2015. These priorities shall influence our entire value chain, from product design and development to the very end of a product’s life. The key focus areas for IKEA will be:

Offering a range of products that are more sustainable.

Taking a leading role towards low carbon society.

Turning waste into resources.

Reducing water footprint.

Taking social responsibility.

During 2011 more targets at all levels of the organization will be developed to help IKEA measure its progress. Sustainability is an integrated part of IKEA stores’ business, which means that all its strategies and business plans clearly and systematically integrate sustainability improvements and investments as part of its everyday operations.

The complete report can be accessed on www.ikea.com.kw.