Peter Jones
Head of Sustainability,
IKEA U.S. & Canada.
Increasingly, Canadian companies are buying into the idea of a circular business to avoid waste and preserve the value of products and materials. IKEA Canada is doubling down on this concept with ambitious actions.
How does it work? Instead of the traditional linear economy, where goods are produced, sold, used and thrown away, the circular economy demands an approach that sees us design products for circularity to be used, repaired, reused, repurposed, remanufactured, recycled, and made again.
Considering the full life cycle
“Circularity has been part of the IKEA mindset since we started in business,” says Peter Jones, Head of Sustainability of IKEA U.S. and Canada. “From the way we design our products to the services we offer, our goal is to help products stay in use longer and make sustainable living affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.”
IKEA is changing every aspect of its business from the way it sources energy and materials to how it designs products and runs its operations. This means enabling customers to acquire, care for, and pass on products in circular ways, designing more products to be reused, refurbished, or recycled, and using renewable and recycled products wherever possible. It’s also using its global influence to advocate, collaborate and form partnerships to promote a circular economy.
Sustainability in practice
For many of its products, customers can take advantage of IKEA Canada’s Sell-back program. Instead of much-loved furniture going to the landfill, they’ll buy it back and give you an in-store credit. Your furniture then finds a new home through IKEA Canada’s As-is marketplace, where people can find deals that are good for their wallets and the environment. In As-is, you’ll find discontinued and gently used items, and even items from showroom displays. While these may be slightly used, they are thoroughly inspected to ensure functionality and safety, and sold with great discounts.
Want to repair your furniture to extend its lifespan? IKEA has you covered with spare parts. You can order small parts for free, such as screws, knobs, and plugs. For larger parts, see your local store.
IKEA has always believed that good design, affordability, and sustainability should go hand in hand, which is why it created programs that support circular solutions. “We believe people shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and sustainability, which is why we continue to focus on solutions that help customers reduce waste, extend the life of their furnishings, and make more sustainable choices at home without large price tags,” says Jones. “As IKEA Canada celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we’re proud to reflect on five decades of putting people and planet at the heart of our business, while continuing to innovate for a more circular future.”
Learn how you can benefit from IKEA Canada’s affordable sustainability at IKEA.ca/sustainability.
