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Simple ways to reduce waste at home​

Household waste is a global problem, with one billion meals being wasted each day*. 1 out of every 4 bags of food shopping are wasted worldwide. Even when you live frugally, there’s always waste at home. Sorting recyclables and organising the fridge are two ways to help reduce waste.

A close-up of plant ball, HUVUDROLL, with a blurred background showing a plate.

See it, sort it, solve it

When it comes food waste, seeing is knowing. Keeping food in clear containers can help you keep an eye on how much you have and lead to less food waste at home.

An open fridge where vegetables and stacked IKEA 365+ food containers are placed on a SNURRAD storage turntable.

See it, sort it, solve it

When it comes food waste, seeing is knowing. Keeping food in clear containers can help you keep an eye on how much you have and lead to less food waste at home.

Tips for reducing food waste​

Plan your shop and cook your plan ​

Planning your meals or snacks for the week can not only save time but can save on food waste too. ​Remember, before you shop, check the ingredients you already have or plan your meals to use what’s in your pantry, fridge or freezer.​

Save some for later​​

Leftovers can make great lunches – so, get smart about storing them. A leak-proof lunch box can give you a cheap and tasty lunch on the go the next day.​​

Clip it up and pop it in the freezer​

A simple sealing clip can help to reduce the amount of wasted food in your everyday life. Many foods come in larger packages than we need. So, when you don’t need to use it all at one time, seal it up to help keep it fresh or freeze it for later. ​

Make food go further​​

Have too much fruit and veg? Why not preserve them? Try making jams, pickles and chutneys and store them in glass jars or freeze them for smoothies. Also, vegetable peels are perfect for broths, soups and stews.

 

Products that help you store food

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Clear plastic storage box with lid, rectangular shape, built-in handle, and transparent body for organising fridge contents.Fridge with organised veggies in stackable containers with date labels.

KLIPPKAKTUS Storage box for fridge, transparent, 32x10x14 cm

Price 89,–/piece
Sold in sets of 2
Clear plastic rectangular storage box with a lid and built-in handle, ideal for organising fridge contents.Fridge organiser boxes with lids store veggies, labelled for dates, stackable.

KLIPPKAKTUS Storage box for fridge, transparent, 32x10x8 cm

Price 79,–/piece
Sold in sets of 2
KLIPPKAKTUS clear plastic fridge storage box. Transparent, rectangular, durable, stackable design for organised fridge storage.Clear fridge storage boxes hold ketchup, pickles, and tomatoes; stackable, with lids for freshness.

KLIPPKAKTUS Storage box for fridge, transparent, 32x14x14 cm

Price 99,–/piece
Sold in sets of 2
KLIPPKAKTUS white herb keeper, tall clear dome, preserves humidity, bottom polypropylene, shape cylindrical.Fridge with clear containers holding herbs, limes, and condiments, keeping produce fresh.

KLIPPKAKTUS Herb storage for fridge, transparent, 10x9x28 cm

Price 129,–
KLIPPKAKTUS clear fridge basket, clear plastic, rectangular with ventilation holes and cut-out handles.Well-organized fridge with fruit and veg in transparent KLIPPKAKTUS baskets, keeping items visible and fresh.

KLIPPKAKTUS Storage basket for fridge, transparent, 30x19x14 cm

Price 119,–
SNURRAD transparent fridge tray, clear plastic, oval shape with raised edges, 360° rotatable.Fridge shelf with rotating tray holding fruits, jars, and bottles, promoting easy access.

SNURRAD Storage turntable, transparent

Price 699,–

Last chance to buy

Pair of beige GULLRISMOTT beige cloth bags with red cords for storage.Metal shelf with fabric bags: GULLRISMOTT, beige, cotton, rectangular, organised design.

GULLRISMOTT Food storage bag, for dry goods, 3.3 l

Price 99,–/2 piece
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Reducing food waste in our stores

Reducing food waste is a priority at IKEA. Since 2016, we have cut production food waste (grams per cover) at IKEA stores by 60.5%, saving around 47.5 million of portions of food.

Learn more

Tips for sorting waste​

The image displays a tidy storage area with a wooden shelving unit on the left side, containing various items such as terracotta pots, a green watering can, and some cans of paint. In front of the shelving unit are two gray fabric bins with white outlines of a battery and a cardboard box printed on them, suggesting they are for recycling specific types of waste.

Get your waste sorting sorted​​

Sorting is easier if each type of recyclable material has a dedicated container – either freestanding or built into a larger solution. Less waste to landfill, and a tidier home to boot.​

A light grey HAVSTORP drawer front

Recycle in the bathroom​

For many, the bathroom is a difficult place to keep on top of. Gather up empty shower bottles, toilet paper rolls and toothpaste tubes, as soon as you finish them. More recycling means a tidier bathroom.​

A clear glass BLANDA serving bowl in the kitchen

Recycle in every room​

Setting up a recycling solution in every room makes sense. The closer a bin is to where you are, the more likely you are to use it. Involve the whole family while you’re at it!​

Don’t throw it all away​

Waste isn’t always waste. Try growing seeds in old egg boxes or using newspaper as gift-wrap, for instance. Think outside the box, and think circular – how else could it be used?​

Products that can help you sort waste

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Three coloured silicone food covers, shaped like flowers, in blue, pink, and clear colours, designed to fit various containers and keep food fresh.A person uses silicone food covers to seal a glass jar with watermelon chunks. Highlights the products function of keeping food fresh.

ÖVERMÄTT Food cover, set of 3, silicone multicolour

Price 79,–
White HÅLLBAR bin, square, made of 50% recycled plastic.Bathroom with green tiles, white sink, wooden shelves, and blue towels. Includes HÅLLBAR bins for storage, some with white lids.

HÅLLBAR Bin with lid, light grey, 3 l

Price 79,–
White recycling bin, HÅLLBAR, rectangular, with lid and handle. Made from recycled plastic.Person sorting waste into a white HÅLLBAR bin with blue shirt.

HÅLLBAR Bin with lid, light grey, 10 l

Price 149,–
HÅLLBAR waste bin, white with dark grey holes, rectangular, ventilated, recycled plastic.Open black kitchen cabinet with three white HÅLLBAR sorted waste bins, one lid up showing food scraps.

HÅLLBAR Bin with lid for organic waste, light grey, 10 l

Price 149,–
A person’s torso is shown wearing a grey sweater, holding a French press coffee maker with freshly brewed coffee. The French press is being tilted to pour coffee into a cup, which is not visible in the frame. The kitchen background features modern, clean lines with a white countertop and cabinets.

Enjoy your favourite drink with your favourite mug – wherever you are​

A travel mug can be used as an infusion bottle with fruits, to make herbal beverages, cold-brewed coffee, or to brew your favourite tea on the go. Wash after use and it’s ready for the next time.

A stack of four clear, rectangular food storage containers with blue lids. From top to bottom, the containers are filled with green leafy vegetables, red cherries, green grapes, and yellow apricots. The containers are placed on a kitchen counter with a blurred background that suggests a home kitchen setting.

Store, wash and reuse​

Preparing a meal in advance, or need to put away leftovers in the fridge? By storing food in a container, or using a washable and reusable food cover, you can avoid using single-use plastic wrap or foil.​

Refill and reuse​

Instead of buying a new bottle of water every time you get thirsty, try carrying a reusable water bottle and refilling it through your day. A great way to reduce single-use waste and make the most of what you have.​

Small changes, every day

At IKEA, we're optimists - we believe that small, everyday changes add up. Explore the products, services and tips we offer.

*According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, each person wastes an average of 79 kg annually - the equivalent of one billion meals in total.

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