IKEA Sustainability Review

Check out why IKEA Sustainability Rating is well-above the industry average. Join the questionZERO community to stay updated with Top Sustainable Brands for June 2025. Make informed, eco-friendly choices with ease - every time you shop.

IKEA qZERO® Sustainability Score

3.9 / 5.0

Advanced Sustainability *

April 6, 2025

About IKEA

Headquarters: Olof Palmestraat 1 2616 LN Delft South Holland Netherlands
Country: Netherlands Netherlands

IKEA is a well-loved global brand specialising in ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances, and home accessories. Known for its minimalist design philosophy, IKEA offers a wide range of affordable products designed to enhance everyday living. The company prioritises sustainability and innovation, often utilising renewable materials and eco-friendly practices in its operations. IKEA's unique store layout provides an immersive shopping experience, featuring showrooms that inspire customers with practical home solutions. With a strong emphasis on quality and design, IKEA continues to be a popular choice for consumers seeking stylish yet economical home furnishings.

IKEA Sustainability Rating is 3.9 out of 5.0

This means IKEA are well-above average compared to other companies in the Multiline and Specialty Retailers & Distributors.

Industry positioning

IKEA
Industry average
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.9
2.6
Overall
3.9
2.7
Environmental
3.6
3.4
Social
4.2
3.3
Governance

IKEA positioning within the Multiline and Specialty Retailers & Distributors

Sustainability Issues in the Multiline and Specialty Retailers & Distributors Industry

The Multiline and Specialty Retailers & Distributors sector faces several sustainability challenges. Key issues include reducing environmental impacts related to energy consumption and waste, enhancing social responsibilities such as fair labour practices and community engagement, and improving governance structures for better transparency and ethical business conduct.

IKEA's Sustainability Performance

Inter IKEA Holding B.V., commonly known as IKEA, demonstrates a commendable sustainability performance compared to the broader industry. IKEA excels in minimising its environmental footprint, maintaining strong social standards, and ensuring robust governance practices. This positions IKEA as a leader in its commitment to sustainable practices within the sector, showcasing abilities to integrate sustainability into its core operations more effectively than many of its peers.

```

How does IKEA focus on You?

IKEA product range.

IKEA, under Inter IKEA Holding B.V., offers a wide range of affordable home furnishings and accessories. Their products include furniture, kitchen appliances, textiles, and home decor items that cater to diverse household needs, providing stylish and functional solutions for everyday living.

Affordability vs Sustainability.

IKEA addresses the affordability versus sustainability balance by adopting an efficient production approach and sourcing sustainable materials. They focus on producing high-quality furniture using cost-effective methods, such as optimising material usage and implementing energy-efficient processes. Additionally, IKEA invests in renewable resources and recycled materials, ensuring products are financially accessible while minimising environmental impact. This strategy enables them to offer budget-friendly solutions without compromising on their commitment to sustainability. Through initiatives like the IKEA Better Cotton Programme and FSC-certified wood usage, IKEA demonstrates that sustainability and cost-effectiveness can coexist, thus appealing to consumers conscious of both price and environmental impact.

IKEA Sustainability Rating Breakdown:

IKEA Overall Sustainability Rating is 3.9 out of 5.0

Unique Elements of IKEA's Sustainability Approach

IKEA embraces sustainability through an innovative circular economy model, focusing on reducing its environmental impact using renewable and recycled materials. The company is committed to nurturing a better everyday life for many by ensuring fair labour practices and supporting communities. They strongly emphasise integrating sustainable practices into their governance strategy, ensuring accountability and transparency across all levels of operation. With product durability and resource efficiency at its core, IKEA empowers consumers to be part of the solution by providing repair, reuse, and recycling options. This multifaceted approach underlines IKEA's dedication to a sustainable future.

IKEA Environmental Rating is 3.9 out of 5.0

Environmental Practices Summary

IKEA exhibits strong environmental practices that are predominantly reflected in effective energy management and environmental certifications. The company also capitalises on environmental opportunities, showcasing a commitment to innovative solutions. Areas such as land use and biodiversity, materials sourcing, and pollution prevention and management also demonstrate robust management, underscoring a well-rounded approach. However, there is room for improvement in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management and in the assessment of climate risk. Evaluating these components could further enhance IKEA's overall environmental impact.

IKEA Social Rating is 3.6 out of 5.0

Social Sustainability Analysis of Inter IKEA Holding B.V. (IKEA)

Inter IKEA Holding B.V. demonstrates strong social sustainability practices with considerable strengths in several key areas:

  • Community Engagement: The company achieves high ratings, indicating robust initiatives that support and connect with local communities.
  • Health and Safety: High scores reflect an effective focus on ensuring safe and healthy work environments.
  • Human Rights Abuses and Labor Relations: Exceptional scores suggest rigorous measures are in place to respect and uphold workers' rights and ethical labour practices.

However, there is a significant opportunity for improvement in the area of Products and Services, as current practices do not meet the industry's best standards. Enhancing product-related social responsibility could further bolster IKEA's reputation and overall social sustainability performance.

IKEA Governance Rating is 4.2 out of 5.0

Governance Practices of Inter IKEA Holding B.V.

Inter IKEA Holding B.V. demonstrates strong governance practices with exceptional business resilience and sustainability performance. The company's commitment to maintaining high ethical standards and transparency indicates a robust governance framework. While governance-related certifications and corporate compliance behaviours are solid, there is potential for further enhancement in these areas to align with their highest-scoring aspects. The company's governance practices reflect a comprehensive approach to maintaining accountability and extending shareholder rights, contributing positively to its sustainability objectives.

What makes IKEA stand out in the Industry?

IKEA's main Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is its offering of affordable, well-designed furniture and home accessories that cater to a wide range of customers. Known for its flat-pack products, IKEA provides solutions that combine quality with cost-effectiveness, allowing customers to furnish their homes stylishly and practically. The brand distinguishes itself by integrating sustainability into its business model, aiming to minimise environmental impact through responsible sourcing and eco-friendly designs. With stores across the globe, IKEA also enhances the shopping experience through its showroom concepts and extensive online presence, making stylish, functional living accessible to people worldwide.

So is IKEA sustainable?

IKEA's Commitment to Sustainability

As consumers become increasingly aware of their choices impact on the planet, sustainability remains a key concern. If you consider IKEA for your next furniture purchase, you'll be pleased to know that the brand strongly commits to sustainability.

Their efforts encompass a wide range of initiatives that balance environmental, social, and governance considerations. IKEA integrates sustainable practices into its operations, ensuring that materials are responsibly sourced and that energy efficiency is a priority. The company is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and promoting recycling practices, making it a positive choice for the environmentally conscious shopper.

On the social side, IKEA works towards bettering communities and ensuring fair working conditions throughout its supply chain. The brand is attentive to social responsibilities, contributing positively to the societies in which it operates. It also acknowledges the importance of governance, implementing robust policies that guide corporate actions and ethical business conduct.

By choosing IKEA, you are supporting responsible business practices. Knowing this can enhance your shopping experience, adding a sense of satisfaction that your choices align with broader environmental and social goals. It's a remarkable way to make a difference with your purchasing power.

* Disclaimer: We use publicly available information, licensed data, information generated by artificial intelligence tools and information obtained directly from brands in order to determine our Sustainability Ratings. We recognise that you will be consulting various sources in order to do your due diligence and/or to inform your buying decisions, which may include considering our Sustainability Ratings. Please note that our Sustainability Ratings are for general information only and you must not use any part of the content on our site (including the Sustainability Ratings) for commercial or business purposes without first obtaining a licence to do so from us or our licensors. The Sustainability Ratings are not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees that the content on our site or the Sustainability Ratings are accurate, complete or up to date. We therefore disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such content by any visitor to our site, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Please refer to our Terms of Service or contact us at if you have any questions.

More sustainability ratings

Explore more comprehensive reports and see how sustainable brands are with our factual, intelligent qZERO Sustainability Score system —designed for conscious shoppers who care about making a difference.