FÖRÄNDRING collection

FÖRÄNDRING means ‘change’ in Swedish. This new collection is a step towards change aimed at reducing air pollution and improving the health of the many people.

Through the “Better Air Now” initiative, IKEA offers a solution to one of the biggest global environmental problems: managing the waste generated by harvesting rice. Rice straw is an agricultural residue that is usually burnt, causing a huge amount of air pollution. IKEA wants to turn this residue into a new renewable source of material to make new products.

Selection of FÖRÄNDRING items in a dark room on a wooden floor.

As the first step, the initiative is focused on the northern regions of India, one of the most polluted areas in the world with cities like New Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad. The long-term objective is to create a model to reduce air pollution in other regions across the globe where crops are burnt, which is why IKEA has joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. The practice of burning rice straw is one of the main causes of air pollution and smog in India. Northern India is home to 9 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world. The long-term ambition of the “Better Air Now” initiative is to include other regions in India and beyond, and to create a model for reducing air pollution in other parts of the world where crops are burnt.

Burning stalks in a rice field.

“The health effects of air pollution are severe”

“The health effects of air pollution are severe and at IKEA we are determined to contribute to a solution. We know that burning of rice crop residue is a major pollution source and with this initiative we hope that will change. If we can find a way to make use of rice straw, it would become a valuable source for the farmers instead of being burnt, which in the end would also contribute to better air for people”, says Helene Davidsson, Sustainability Manager South Asia at IKEA Purchasing & Logistics. “Many learnings have been gained from this journey so far and we see countless opportunities for the future. Joining the Climate and Clean Air Coalition is an important next step as it provides the opportunity to gain more knowledge as well as inspire others to be part of addressing this big issue. We want to share our pilot model from Better Air Now for repurposing agricultural residues that can be scaled up and replicated by others in other regions and with other crops”, points out Helene Davidsson, Sustainability Manager South Asia at IKEA Purchasing & Logistics.

The World Health Organisation
Photo of Helene Davidsson, Sustainability Manager South Asia at IKEA Purchasing & Logistics.
The World Health Organisation

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a voluntary association of governments, intergovernmental organisations, companies, scientific institutions and civil society organisations that are committed to improving air quality and protecting the environment through measures to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. More information:

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition
A city shrouded in pollution
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition

“Growing up in India, I have never been able to take clean air for granted, heavy pollution is part of my and many other people’s everyday lives. The idea of doing something that contributes to improving the current situation has given me a lot of energy. We wanted to reflect this important topic in this collection” says Akanksha Deo, IKEA designer.

The design team. Akanksha and Iina are designers at IKEA Akanksha lives in New Delhi, India, and Iina lives in Shanghai, China. They both want to use their designs to contribute to cleaner air. “FÖRÄNDRING is a collection in the shades of black and blue. It illustrates the present situation with smog and air pollution, and the hopes for a more optimistic future with crisp and clear blue sky”, says Iina Vuorivirta, IKEA designer.