IKEA on the Circular Economy: Consumer Behavior Must Change - Seite 2

Democratic Design is a tool used to develop and evaluate the products in the IKEA range. It has five dimensions including function, form, quality, sustainability, and low price. When there is a balance between all five, the design is considered to be democratic, meaning it improves the everyday life of many people.

Collaboration and Innovation

Regarding the role of collaboration in the circular economy, for Engman it's based on curiosity and generosity. He cited Atelier100 as an example. This unique initiative was established by Ingka Group, the largest IKEA franchisee, and H&M to help people bring their innovative ideas to life. Driven by a collective of creatives, makers, manufacturers and design industry experts, it focuses on the merits of local design and production.

The first batch of products from Atelier100 include a vase made from London clay excavated from below the River Thames, handcrafted in ceramicist and artist Alison Cooke's West Hampstead studio, and a floor light using a free-standing London cobblestone for weight and balance, produced in Mitre & Mondays' Islington workshop.

For Engman, innovation and sustainability go hand in hand, and require collaboration for long-term success. Wood, the most ancient material used for furniture, is critical to the company's product line. Using it sustainably requires a special relationship with nature. "In Sweden, where I come from, nature is in your face. You learn from an early age how to embed nature in your daily life and how to forage to fill your pantry," he said.

Responsible wood sourcing is at the heart of IKEA's business, and the company has been using its size and reach to improve forest management across the world. Partnering with a variety of stakeholders to increase the volume and availability of wood from responsibly managed forests is key to IKEA's own supply and goes well beyond. IKEA was one of the founders of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 1994, which unites stakeholders from around the world to improve forest management on a global and national level. In FY20, more than 98% of the wood used for IKEA products was FSC-certified or recycled.

Technology is another key element in the circular mindset. "In the U.S. we introduced IKEA Kreativ, a new part of the IKEA app that helps people design their space using virtual and mixed reality," said Engman. "They take pictures of their rooms and scan them into the app where they can move around old and new furniture. People can try things out virtually instead of buying things and sending them back if they don't fit."

Although IKEA's mattress recycling solution is still in the development phase, IKEA's numerous innovative partnerships and sustainable initiatives are examples of how to change behavior, production and processes to create the circular mindset that will drive the economy of the future.

For more information on how SAP helps companies record, report, and act on their sustainability goals, visit www.sap.com/sustainability.

This story originally appeared on SAP BrandVoice on Forbes.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SAP on 3blmedia.com.

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