Aldo Lele, Sustainability Manager at IKEA SEE – Solutions for Cleaner and Greener Future Company’s Priority in Next Decade as Well

We talked to Aldo Lele, Sustainability Manager at IKEA SEE, about the importance of sustainable business and the goals of IKEA in the upcoming decade. He revealed to us how IKEA sees modern interior, why they are dedicated to solutions for a cleaner and greener future and what the response was to the Green Friday campaign and what its advantages are.

How does IKEA understand the modern interior – what are its features and what criteria must it meet?

At IKEA, we believe great design is for everyone – this is why we have an approach called ‘democratic design’. It means that every home furnishing product that we make needs to combine function, form, quality, sustainability and low price. When there is a balance between all five, we consider that the design is democratic. IKEA’s home furnishing range, at the same time, reflects the Swedish lifestyle. That means that in Sweden the product range is regarded as typically IKEA whereas in other countries it is regarded as typically Swedish. As simple, modern, functional and well-designed, with sustainability in mind. And always affordable for the many.

The issue of sustainability has long been an essential part of IKEA`s range – from furniture to food. What is the importance of sustainable business and what benefits and advantages does it bring to the company?

All over the world, people want change – and so do we. We aim for better, healthier, and more sustainable lives. Our planet is the only home that we have and if we want to continue living on it tomorrow, we have to change our habits today. We are rethinking how we live, work and travel, to be able to live within the limits of the planet. Working together to source, produce and use products in a sustainable way, enabling a second life for existing products as well as providing solutions for a cleaner and greener future.

This is why in IKEA we set out three overarching goals to reach by 2030 - to inspire and enable more than 1 billion people to live better lives within the limits of the planet, to become climate positive and regenerate resources while growing the IKEA business and, finally to create a positive social impact for everyone across the IKEA value chain. These will be our utmost priorities in the ongoing decade.

To what extent is it necessary to change consumer habits in the pursuit of sustainable business? Is it significantly different in the furniture industry compared to other industries?

Our recent research shows that 90% of people want to live more sustainably, but a third (37%) are unsure on what actions to take. People are asking for help and will engage with brands that offer simple, affordable solutions. We want to be a part of these solutions, by integrating sustainability in people’s lives and home, making sustainable living more simple, accessible and affordable for as many people as possible. We do this through exploring several different areas; from prolonging the life of IKEA products, to creating a green energy community globally, as well as providing more sustainable options of affordable food that is also good for the planet.

I believe that each of us have a role to play. Governments must step up and make a difference. Brands and companies from various industries have to take a stand for the things we care about. And as individuals we all have the power to contribute to real change in both homes and in the daily lives.

The company`s mission is to become a completely circular and climate-positive business by 2030. What does this mean in practice?

We know that resources are limited so we must find smarter ways to use them. It’s about extending the life of products and materials, seeing them as raw materials for the future and eliminating waste at every level.

It also means developing products that can be used throughout the changing lives of our customers. For example, we have baby cots that transform into toddler beds, or modular products such as PLATSA storage solution or VIMLE sofa, where pieces can be added or taken away as needed, to adapt to constantly evolving needs.

Here in Serbia we see a lot of space to incentivize circular actions and, after the ongoing Green Friday campaign, we will continue looking into new ways to stimulate such behavior.



You choose materials from sustainable sources for your products. What materials are we talking about? How do they affect interior changes?

Choosing materials for us is about making responsible decisions. When we’re not able to use renewable resources, we aim for recycled or recyclable ones. Wood, cotton, wool, plastic, paper, and metal are just a few that we love to work with.

But what is also important is the way we are developing products too. We aim to design in ways that allow us to recycle products at the end of their lifetime, thus minimizing waste and use of raw materials. We could also say that the way the materials are used will change an ordinary design into a sustainable one.

You have launched a Green Friday campaign. What is its basic message? How satisfied are you with the response of the participants?

We are very much pleased, and I would say even positively surprised, with the response and interest of our customers, but also thankful that you in the media for recognizing the value of this initiative and spreading word about it.

This campaign is just one part of how IKEA will transform into a circular and climate positive business by 2030. By buying back old IKEA furniture, we wanted to benefit both the planet and our customers: the old furniture gets a new owner and thus a second life so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill, while the customer gets a certain value back on a refund card. The card can be used anytime in the next three years, allowing our customers to buy what they desire, when they need it. We believe it’s a win-win for everyone. As our circularity commitments are long-term, IKEA buy back service will continue to exist permanently in the IKEA Belgrade store, and all the items will be sold in the “As-Is” area.

With this much interest already shown, we will consider new ways of engaging our customers around our circular agenda it so that we all together can continue making impactful actions that benefit our environment.

IKEA Srbija d.o.o. Beograd

Ikea

Aldo Lele

modern interior

democratic design

Swedish lifestyle

sustainability

sustainable business

furniture industry

circular business

climate positive business formula

toddler beds

PLATSA

VIMLE sofa

Green Friday

GreenFriday

materials from renewable sources

recycled materials

wood

cotton

wool

plastic

paper

metal

buyout of old furniture

second life

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