By working with our suppliers and challenging ourselves, our goal is to secure long-term access to sustainable raw materials and change the way the industry works. Keep reading for a closer look at some of the materials in our products.
Wood
We’re big fans of wood. Not only because it’s part of our Scandinavian design heritage, but because it’s a living material that lends durability and warmth, ages beautifully and is both renewable and recyclable.Because wood is so important to IKEA, we work together with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to take care of the world’s forests through responsible forest management – making sure we have forests for all, forever.
We also work with WWF and other partners to combat illegal logging, improve forest management practices, enhance biodiversity and support credible forest certification.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural and renewable material used for our most popular products, from sofas and cushions to bed sheets, lampshades and even more.All cotton used in our products is from more sustainable sources. “More sustainable” means improved cotton production for people and the environment by minimising the use of water, pesticides and fertilisers. Good for the farmers, good for the planet and good for you.
Natural fibres
We use different natural fibre materials, from water hyacinth to cork, banana fibres, and rattan. Besides being natural and renewable, they also have great character, making each final product quite unique.A majority of this production is non-industrial. We work closely with weavers and craftsmen and women in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China amongst others. Working with skilled artisans from around the world opens doors for co-creation, inspiration and new production knowledge as well.
Scrap/recycled
We want to make sure that we create value rather than waste. This is why we are constantly looking for new ways to use scrap materials and recyclables and turn them into something useful and stylish for your home.Wood, plastic, paper, and metal are just a few that we love to work with, together with leftover fabrics from another production and re-melted broken glass.
Composite
A composite material consists of two or more materials - each with different characteristics. At IKEA, we use composite material because it’s strong, low maintenance, low price, and light.An example is wood-plastic composite. Using wood fibre waste makes plastic products stronger and less expensive - and it helps put waste to good use. That’s the beauty of composite: there’s less material usage and a great potential to utilize lower quality materials (otherwise classified as waste) and turn them into something new that is strong, compact, and light with a long lifetime.
Plastic
Most plastics are oil-based, which means that they come from a non-renewable resource. So, whenever possible, we use as much recycled or renewable plastic in our products as we can.PET, PE and PP are three of the most commonly used plastics in IKEA products, and all comply with the strictest law and safety standards. We have detailed requirements on the use of chemicals and other substances in the manufacturing process, considering your health aspects and environmental impacts.
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world and as a young plant can grow up to one meter per day. But that’s just one of many reasons why we like working with it. It’s durable, hard, and moisture tolerant.Its durability also means that structural elements and boards can be made thin, so we can use less material per product than with other materials, meaning natural resources are saved. On top of that, we use all parts of bamboo in production, even the darker ones that are usually discarded.