IKEA inspires and enables sustainable life at home

The Swedish brand launches sustainability product range in the PH

I recently attended an event at IKEA which launched its sustainability product range and its vision of creating a better everyday life at home. If you've been around IKEA, you know that they have a wide variety of affordable and quality home furnishings that helps many Filipinos achieve a sustainable life at home.

Georg Platzer, IKEA's Store Manager shares “For us, a sustainable life at home is affordable and attainable through small actions that will eventually create a big impact on home life and on our Earth,”. While we know that sometimes, the concept of sustainability is often viewed as challenging, unpractical and expensive. “At IKEA we believe that sustainable living cannot be a luxury for the few. It must be affordable for the many.” added Georg.

There was a portion also where the host, Karen Davila interviewed IKEA's partners who share the same vision and commitment to sustainability, Mober and Rags to Riches and also the food and dining department of IKEA.

With more than 2,000 products that help people save energy and water, reduce waste, conserve resources, or settle into home furnishings made from renewable and recycled material, 57 solutions were specifically chosen and designed for Filipinos.

A practical, affordable, and sustainable life at home

Anchored on the principle that anyone can live sustainably, IKEA presents simple solutions so that the many Filipinos can make small, affordable, but still very meaningful actions that have a positive impact on the environment:

• Furniture that lasts longer. IKEA presents furniture that grows as a family grows. Rather than needing to be replaced, pieces can be supplemented with modules as needed. Products that can adapt as needs change are even more useful. For example, the PAHL desk, is an adjustable table that helps avoid the cost and hassle of buying a new desk as your child grows.
• Products that use less resources. A pressure compensating aerator is standard across the whole IKEA range of taps and showers. This reduces the amount of water coming out by up to 50% but keeps the flow at the desired level. LED light bulbs are also standard across all IKEA products. Those use up to 85% less energy—this makes them planet friendly—and lasts 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

• Products that help reduce waste. The world is using and wasting resources more than ever. By practicing some small and smart changes at home like adhering to a waste sorting system, we can help the world’s waste problem. For instance, the SORTERA recycling bin allows you to recycle and compost, significantly reducing waste at home.
• Reusable products. From the trusty and durable FRAKTA bag to the IKEA 365+ food containers, IKEA products are meant to be reused many, many times. Something to look forward to is the STORSTOMMA, a rainbow-colored version of the Swedish retailers’ bestselling carrier bag, coming very soon.
• Plant-based foods. Plant-based foods have a smaller environmental impact than meat and dairy products. The problem is plant-based food often comes at the expense of flavor and texture. That’s not the case with the HUVUDROLL plant ball, a plant-based alternative that’s just as delicious its meat counterpart. The HUVUDROLL is fast becoming a favorite of Filipinos, so be sure to grab them right away because they sell out real quick.

• Products made from natural and responsibly sourced materials. Wood is durable, recyclable, and renewable if grown and used responsibly—It also looks great. Bamboo is another sustainable raw material used in IKEA products. Its strength and stability provide possibilities for construction with thinner elements and boards, resulting in reduced use of material. This saves natural resources and increases savings during transport. Bamboo also filters carbon dioxide, produces oxygen, and has a high growth rate making it extremely sustainable. Aside from wood and bamboo, all the cotton used for IKEA products comes from sustainable sources. In fact, 60% of the IKEA product range already uses renewable materials.
• A collection inspired by the surf lifestyle. Since 2019, IKEA has partnered with the World Surf League, a leading global sports organization for surfers, to develop a new collection inspired by an active lifestyle that’s close to the ocean and conscious of the planet. The KASEBERGA collection, which will be in IKEA Pasay very soon, offers a range of practical, beautifully-designed products that champion sustainability. It was developed with a focus on including more renewable materials like wood, and materials from recycled sources such as polyester.

Much like how its products are catered for many people, so is the concept of sustainable living. IKEA makes sustainable living at home easier and more affordable than ever with practical and simple solutions that any Filipino can do.

Another way IKEA commits to sustainability is through its Circular Shop. “No visit to IKEA Philippines would be complete without dropping by the Circular Shop where you’ll find returned items, floor samples, end of the range, and discontinued pieces, all at a fraction of their original price. We’re dedicated to giving every piece we make a long and useful a life as possible, and this is one of the ways we’re making sure we do that,” added Platzer.