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Sustainable life at home

woman and children in IKEA kitchen


Make a difference without leaving your home


At IKEA we have loads of affordable products and solutions to help you live a more sustainable life at home. They may seem like small things – LED bulbs, recycling waste baskets, food storage containers and the like – but that’s the beauty of small actions: they all add up!

LED & LIGHTING

Let’s make the switch to LED

By 2016, all the lighting that we sell at IKEA will be LED. It means that we’re gradually phasing out all other types of light bulb. Don’t worry – you can use LED light bulbs in all your favourite lamps. And, even better, we’ll be able to bring you lots of exciting new lighting possibilities as well.

“Lighting can play a really strong part in sustainability”

James Futcher, Product Developer

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IKEA pendant lamps with LED technology

Go ahead, buy yourself something nice


Yes, an LED bulb can be more expensive to buy. But when you think about the fact that you probably won’t have to replace the bulb for 20 years, and that it will actually save you money on your energy bill, it’s a bargain.

LED lighting solutions can do more than just shave bits off your electricity bill – they can slash it.

That translates to money saved – money that can go towards your children’s education, a fancy dinner out or a new pair of red boots. If you ask us what you could do to save energy and money, with the least amount of effort, we say: buy LED.
See all LED bulbs
E14 LED light bulb from IKEA

Six reasons to love LED bulbs & lights

  1. They use up to 85% less energy and last up to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs
  2. Bulbs come in various sizes, with bases that fit standard lamp sockets
  3. LEDs are cool to the touch
  4. They’re bright enough to find a splinter in a tiny thumb
  5. An 8-watt LED bulb = a 40-watt incandescent bulb
  6. Designer LED lights have shades that make it possible to cast cool patterns on a ceiling or corner
energy efficient KLOR LED lamp from IKEA

A brilliant idea from an unlikely
source


Light emitting diode (LED) is an amazingly energy efficient technology. LED bulbs use up to 85 percent less energy and shine up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

When we realised how beneficial LED technology was, we knew we had to figure out a way to make it affordable for people around the world. All lights in our range also have to be beautiful, inspiring and unique.

We asked Nicklas Fransson, an IKEA Product Developer, to explore the possibilities. While he was out and about in Hong Kong – totally absorbed with new ideas for LED – he spotted some large showerheads in a nearby bathroom shop. “Hmm, shower heads are getting bigger and LEDs are getting smaller,” he thought.

“I bet there would be room for a lot of LEDs inside a shower head.”

Using LED technology we were able to turn his idea into reality and created the KLOR pendant lamp. On the underside of the lamp you can see that each diode has a lens that looks like a drop of water. They’re not there just to look good, but to spread light evenly across the table.

Not only is the KLOR pendant lamp beautiful and functional, it’s a good example of how inspiration can strike anywhere.

KLOR pendant lamp

See all LED lights

LED bulbs use up to 85% less energy and last up to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

 

ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

pot on IKEA hob with hand lifting lid

Watch your
water boil


There’s a saying, “A watched pot never boils.”
Well, it does if you use induction cooking.

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woman cooking on energy efficient induction hob from IKEA

Only a few years ago, an induction hob was out of reach for many people, so we decided to dramatically reduce our prices to make sure they would become much more affordable.

What’s the magic behind induction technology? It’s basically a magnetic field technology that only heats the pan – not the hob or surrounding air – so only a small amount of heat is wasted.

The result? Well, two litres of water can be brought to boil in just five minutes on an induction hob, while it takes as much as 10 minutes on a glass-ceramic hob.

You’ll be seeing a lot more induction hobs from us moving forward as we have plans to focus our range on this energy-saving technology.

See all electrical hobs
family in kitchen WITH A+rated appliances

A cool way to save


What takes up the most household electricity in your home? For most, it’s major appliances like a refrigerator or freezer. Yes, it’s a big-ticket item, but replacing an old refrigerator or freezer maximises your energy and money savings. A new fridge that has been “A+ rated” in Europe can use half the amount of the electricity that a typical 10-year-old fridge needs to do
the job.

But we think you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for energy savings. So we made our entire range of fridges and freezers A+ rated in Europe, and sell them at low prices so more people around the world can afford them.

See all refrigerators & freezers
 

TEXTILES

girl lying on floor playing with IKEA toy cars

Your sustainable- living heroes: the rug and the curtain


There are lots of simple ways to save energy at home. One is right under your feet.

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bare feet on a soft IKEA rug and lightblocking curtains

Since many homes lose heat through the floors, area rugs are the unsung heroes of low-cost, quick-fix energy solutions. They also do a good job of making you feel warmer than it is.

Another way to save energy and regulate indoor temperatures is to use textiles to insulate your window and door openings.

You can hang thick curtains in front of a window or a drafty door – especially in unused rooms or garage entries – to help keep heat inside a room during winter. In summer, use a lightweight curtain to block direct sun while allowing light to filter through.

See all rugs

See all curtains
 

WASTE & RECYCLING

empty plastic bottles in recycling box from IKEA

Doing good, one plastic bottle at a
time

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woman using IKEA recycling products

Recycling is something everybody can do – from small homes to big businesses. When we recycle, materials like paper, plastic and metal can be used again to make new products, instead of taking new resources out of the Earth. If we all pitch in we can help conserve raw materials for future generations.

Recycling is easy once you figure out a system that works for you and get into the habit of it.

We understand that space can be an issue so we’ve developed several solutions to help keep your recycling piles under control.
IKEA DIMPA recycling bag

DIMPA recycling bins
This range of waste sorting bags makes it easy – and affordable – to sort dry-recyclable leftovers. We made DIMPA out of wipe-clean plastic and in sizes that are easy to take to the recycling station.
All products in DIMPA Series
RETUR waste sorting bins for a sustainable living


RETUR recycling system
Great for small spaces-or when there’s no room under the sink-we made our freestanding RETUR system in three different sizes so you can customise your own recycling station. Made from easy-clean plastic, they all have built-in handles so they’re easy to lift and transport.
RETUR bin
RATIONELL waste sorting bins for a sustainable living

RATIONELL recycling series
With our RATIONELL waste sorting system you can separate your recyclables right away in your kitchen. Simply open your cabinets or drawers and toss in scraps as you work. The bins are easy to lift and carry; lids lock in odours. RATIONELL is made to fit 40, 60 or 80 cm base cabinets.
All products in RATIONELL recycling series

Approximately 1/3 of global food produced for people is lost or thrown away.

RARITET and IKEA 365+ food savers

So, how much food are you planning on throwing away this week?



Of course no one sits down to dinner with the intention of throwing food away. But many households may throw away as much as a quarter of the food they buy. When you think about it as one out of four grocery bags, it’s easy to get motivated to do something about it. Here are some smart products that can help you save money on your next food bill.

RARITET food storage
We tend to eat what we see, which is why we made RARITET out of see-through plastic that can go into your dishwasher, freezer and microwave. These clever products stack, store and measure so you make the most of space, time and money – three resources that we could all use more of!

All products in RARITET series

IKEA 365+ food storage
The largest food container in this series has a removable grid in the bottom so liquids and condensation pools below and food stays fresher longer. Tight lids make food last longer and taste better; a steam release vent allows for quick and even heating in the microwave.

All products in IKEA 365+ food storage series

We currently use the Earth’s resources as if we have 1.5 planets.

RARITET food savers on top of each other

Four easy ways to reduce your food waste and save money



1. Box it up
As soon as you get home from the grocery store, chop and store perishable foods like carrots and celery sticks in see-through or marked containers for quick-grab snacks.


2. Plan carefully
Leftovers are great but who wants to eat spicy black bean soup five nights in a row? Make weekly dinner menus and store leftovers in the freezer for lunch another day.


3. Move your inventory
Store the little leftovers in small, see-through containers and stack them up so everybody can see what’s inside.


4. Take the easy route
Use an energy efficient microwave as your personal sous chef on
leftover night.
 

ENERGY-EFFICIENT COOKING

energy efficient cooking of fish in steamer insert in IKEA pot

Energy-saving solutions for fine dining at home


Making small changes in the way you cook can add up to big savings in time, energy and money.

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energy efficient cooking with STABIL

An added benefit is that some of these techniques create meals that are more flavourful and nutritious than conventional cooking methods. Here are a couple of solutions that will have your family clamouring for seconds.

STABIL steaming and boiling inserts
Why not make the most of your hob heat with STABIL pot inserts? The steaming insert lets you steam broccoli to a bright green colour while the linguini happily boils to al dente perfection. Space saving and versatile, they can be stacked on top of each other inside your pot for super-efficient cooking on small hobs. The STABIL boiling insert separates food so you can cook and serve all from one pot of boiling water.
STABIL steamer insert


STABIL boiling insert
saving energy and time with a DILLKÖTT pressure cooker


DILLKÖTT pressure cooker
Pressure cookers have been around for a while, producing a variety of meals with preserved flavours and vitamins – and cutting cooking time nearly in half. DILLKÖTT pressure cooker reduces cooking time and energy consumption considerably. From canning peaches to Coq au vin, this hob powerhouse is a time-proven, energy-saving tool.
DILLKÖTT pressure cooker

Your pasta water boils up to 75% faster with a lid on it!

 

SAVING WATER

IKEA kitchen with woman standing on stool reaching for herbs

Tapping into more ways to use less water

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child playing in a washbasin

Experts say that less than three percent of the water on Earth is fresh water and most is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. We can all contribute to conserving this precious, shared resource – all it takes is a call to a plumber.

Switching an old-fashioned kitchen or bathroom tap to one from IKEA can reduce water use by 30 percent or more. What’s the secret? Well, a pressure compensating aerator, a little device inside the tap that restricts the flow without reducing the water pressure. By adding a bit of air to the flow, we help you save water and hopefully money, too.
See all kitchen taps

See all bathroom taps

Households account for around 10% of all freshwater consumption.

 

USING RESOURCES WISELY

mother and child reading story in IKEA bed

Finding value (and our values!) in IKEA products


Doing more with less. Acting responsibly. These action- based values are not new to IKEA. In fact, they define our business and explain the “why” behind what we do. Take wood and cotton for example – two of our most important raw materials. They are both renewable, and we work hard to make sure they come from forests and fields that are responsibly managed, with people and the environment in mind.
Energy & resources
 
Sustainable life at home
woman and children in IKEA kitchen
Discover products that help you live more sustainably, whether it’s saving energy or
sorting waste.
Sustainable life at home
Energy & resources
black chair in forest
Check out how we are working behind the scenes to protect some of the world’s most precious resources.
Energy & resources
People & communities
a group of female textile workers
See what we do to try to help create a better life for people and communities.
People & communities
Find out
more
front page of the IKEA sustainability report
Want to dig deeper? Want to see who we work with? Here’s where you’ll find even more.
Find out more