IKEA arrives in Russia
The first IKEA store opens in Moscow.
A code of conduct is launched
The code of conduct called The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products (IWAY) is launched. It defines what suppliers can expect from IKEA and specifies what IKEA expects from its suppliers in terms of legal requirements, working conditions, active prevention of child labour, external environment and forestry management. In addition to this, IKEA also introduces The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labour to ensure that no child labour is used by our suppliers or their sub-contractors. To read more, please visit Working conditions.
Child rights project in India
The IKEA Group, in co-operation with UNICEF, initiates a broad community programme in northern India to address the root causes of child labour. The project includes 500 villages and will benefit more than 1 million people, providing more than 80,000 children with an opportunity for an education. At, present, the project covers a range of initiatives, such as providing alternative learning centres, health and nutrition, education, empowering women and forming women's self-help groups. To read more, please visit IKEA & UNICEF partnership or UNICEF's website.
IKEA customers can shop online
E-shopping is launched in Sweden and Denmark. Since then many other markets have started offering online shopping at IKEA.
2001
IKEA Rail begins
The IKEA Group trials running its own rail operations through IKEA Rail AB. The train runs five round trips a week between Älmhult, in Sweden, and Duisburg, in Germany. In 2004 rail operations are taken over by an external company, with IKEA continuing to use this route. The use of rail continues to be an important part of the IKEA strategy to promote sustainable transportation of IKEA material and products.
Another innovative product
IKEA becomes one of the first manufacturers to produce furniture with patterns produced directly on fibreboard and particleboard, in a factory in Poland. This technique is called print-on-board.
Anders Dahlvig speaks at a Greenpeace conference in London
IKEA has a long tradition of co-operating with different NGOs such as Greenpeace, a co-operation which started in 1991. Over the years, this has helped IKEA phase out the use of bleach for printed materials, the use of PVC in products, as well as working towards protecting natural intact forests.
A new head office for the IKEA Group
The IKEA Group moves its head office from Humlebaek in Denmark to Leiden in the Netherlands.
2002
IKEA recovery is launched
A new product-recovery concept is implemented in more than 100 IKEA stores in Europe to ensure that returned products are, where possible, repaired instead of being wasted.
The IKEA and WWF Co-operation on Forest Projects
In 2002, the global conservation organisation WWF and the IKEA Group join forces to promote responsible forestry in priority regions around the world. The two organisations initiate a series of global and regional forest projects to support the development of responsible forestry. To read more, please visit Forestry or WWF's website.
2003
The fourth IKEA PS collection is launched
The focus is on innovative products with the specific ambition to inspire children to play and enjoy physical activity. The range also includes the successful IKEA PS BRUM soft toy. During 2003-2004 customers help to raise more than 2.1 million euros by purchasing a PS BRUM soft toy at an IKEA Group store. These funds are donated to UNICEF projects for children in Angola and Uganda. To read more, please visit One euro is a fortune or UNICEF's website.
2004
IKEA arrives in Portugal
The first IKEA store in Lisbon.
The 200th IKEA store opens
The IKEA New Haven store in the US is the 200th IKEA Group store worldwide.
2005
Everything for the bedroom under one roof
A complete and co-ordinated collection of bedroom furnishings is launched, including everything from mattresses to smart storage solutions and textiles for all tastes.
IKEA expands its focus to kitchen solutions
IKEA wants to make life in the kitchen easier, after all it is one of the most-used rooms in the house. So IKEA looks into all the ways life in the kitchen can be more fun. The result is a wide range of co-ordinated kitchens and dining furnishings that make kitchen life easier.
IKEA customers help children in need
Customer purchases of IKEA soft toys help raise funds for UNICEF and Save the Children projects focussing on children and their welfare. This yearly campaign has to date raised a total of 4.8 million euros. To read more, please visit One euro is a fortune.
The fifth IKEA PS collection is launched
What if the wildest ideas become the wisest solutions? The fifth IKEA PS collection is launched under the headline 'What If...?' Twenty-eight designers develop a range in which innovation is the key word for materials, design, function and techniques. The range includes everything from rugs with hinges and pillows for your feet, to t-shirt-shaped cushions and rocking dining chairs made from wooden plastic.
IKEA and WWF co-operate on cotton cultivation
IKEA is working together with WWF to promote better methods of cotton cultivation. About 2,000 farmers in Pakistan are being trained in Farmer Field Schools. In 2006, the cotton cultivation project expands to India, where 500 farmers are being trained. The discovery-based learning process encourages the farmers, some of them illiterate, to adopt more sustainable cultivation practices that serve as a good example to others in the region. To read more, please visit WWF's website.
IKEA gives in-kind donations
Schools in Liberia and Burundi receive 9,000 tables each for a UNICEF school project. After the tsunami, IKEA gives UNICEF an in-kind donation of 125,000 bed sheets, 100,000 quilts, 18,000 blankets, 145,000 toys and 300 mattresses to help victims in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. To read more, please visit UNICEF's website.
IKEA Social Initiative
An organisation called IKEA Social Initiative is formed to handle global community involvement through its partnerships with Save the Children and UNICEF.
2006
IKEA arrives in Japan
After previous explorations of Japan with a joint venture in the 70s, the IKEA Group opens its first fully-owned store in Tokyo.
Our co-workers
The IKEA Group exceeds 100,000 co-workers and operates in 44 countries. For the most-up-to-date IKEA figures please visit Facts & Figures.
Preventing illegal logging
The IKEA Group and WWF join forces to curb illegal logging in Russia and reward legal forestry in Russia and China. WWF Russia is actively participating in government working groups to find solutions to illegal logging on the national and regional level. For example, regional anti-illegal logging brigades receive technical assistance to conduct monitoring and gain control over logging activities. Read more on WWF's website.
IKEA Group donates quilts to Pakistan earthquake victims
The Pakistan earthquake in October 2005 leaves many people in a desperate situation. Over 335,000 IKEA quilts are donated to UNICEF and their efforts to help improve the living conditions of the survivors. To read more, please visit UNICEF's website.
IKEA Food is launched
IKEA launches its own food label covering about 30 percent of the 150 products in its food range. The range focuses on high-quality food products based on Swedish recipes and tradition, for a low price. The products have an IKEA label and are sold in Swedish Food Markets in IKEA stores and are also served in IKEA restaurants.
IKEA Stockholm collection
The third generation of the IKEA Stockholm collection is launched.
BESTÅ storage system is launched
It is made from a new sustainable and more environmentally friendly low-weight sandwich construction.
2007
IKEA and WWF Co-operation on climate change
The IKEA Group and WWF start to co-operate on projects aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases generated by IKEA operations. The agreement covers improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy at IKEA suppliers, and developing sustainable customer transportation to and from IKEA stores. Read more on
Climate projects with WWF.
The most international IKEA store
IKEA Haparanda opens the most international IKEA store yet. It is uniquely placed on the border between Sweden and Finland and a catchment area that also includes Russia and Norway.
UTZ Certified coffee
The IKEA Group stores and offices serve only UTZ certified coffee. UTZ is a world standard for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production and sourcing.
Web meetings
The IKEA Group introduces web meetings to reduce travel costs and the impact on the environment.
Express check-outs
Express check-outs began rollout in IKEA stores to increase the speed of service, reduce waiting times and increase flexibility for customers to pay for purchases themselves.
6th IKEA PS collection is launched
The theme is "Never-ending design story". It combines passion for good design and outstanding low prices with the economical use of resources and responsibility for people and the environment.
New President and CEO
Mickael Ohlsson is appointed as the new President and CEO of the IKEA Group in September 2009.
BILLY bookcase
BILLY, the world’s most versatile bookcase, celebrates 30 years in the IKEA product range.
KLIPPAN sofa
KLIPPAN, the flexible and child-friendly sofa, celebrates 30 years in the IKEA product range.
2011
IKEA arrives in Thailand The first IKEA store opens at Bangna in Bangkok.
It's the largest IKEA store in Southeast Asia with the size of 43,000 m².
IWAY – Our code of conduct
Defines what suppliers can expect from IKEA and what IKEA requires from its suppliers.
