IKEA celebrates 30 years of the FRAKTA bag with an updated version that carries the icon into the future

The blue FRAKTA carrier bag is now made with a minimum of 90% recycled material, while staying true to the iconic design, functionality and low price IKEA customers around the world know and love.

For 30 years, the FRAKTA bag has been a trusted companion for millions of IKEA customers worldwide. Originally designed as a practical way to bring purchases home, it has since become one of the most recognisable symbols of IKEA and a versatile solution for countless everyday tasks at home and beyond. Beloved for its simplicity and unmistakable design, the FRAKTA bag reflects the IKEA vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people. Today, more than 44 million FRAKTA bags are sold each year, making it the single most sold IKEA home furnishing product and a familiar presence in homes around the world.

To secure the FRAKTA bag's future, the development team at IKEA of Sweden spent several years finding innovative solutions that make it possible to significantly increase its share of recycled material content while maintaining the characteristics that have made it a household favourite around the world.

"The FRAKTA bag is one of our most loved and iconic products, so updating it came with a clear responsibility. We wanted to increase the share of recycled material without compromising on what makes FRAKTA unique: its functionality, simplicity, distinctive design and low price. While the bag may look the same, a great deal has changed beneath the surface," says Julia Rosenberg, Product Developer for the updated FRAKTA bag at IKEA of Sweden.

The FRAKTA bag in sizes 36 litres and 71 litres is now made with a minimum of 90% recycled material, of which at least 70% comes from packaging waste from the food and plastic industries, such as plastic food containers or jumbo bags used for milk powder. A small amount of blue pigment has been added to preserve the bag's iconic blue colour, while a minimal share of virgin polypropylene helps maintain the strength needed to carry up to 25 kg.

Smart use of material and production

The updated FRAKTA bag reflects a smart approach to material use and production. Both the body and handles are made from a single material, recycled polypropylene (PP).

Additionally, the blue bag is now made through a fully automated production process, helping ensure greater efficiency, consistent quality and reduced material losses during production. Produced in one seamless operation, the handles are fused directly into the material rather than stitched on manually, as in previous versions. This update saves production time and approximately 89,000 km of thread. In the factories where the FRAKTA bags are produced, any leftover material from the process is collected and fed back into the production line to create new bags.

These production changes have also helped IKEA offset the additional processing, sorting and quality-control costs associated with recycled polypropylene, enabling the FRAKTA bag to retain its low price.

The complex journey to update the FRAKTA bag

Behind the updates to the FRAKTA bag lies a journey that has taken years of development, innovation and collaboration. Since 2017, IKEA product developers, engineers and suppliers have worked together to increase the use of recycled materials while maintaining the qualities that have made the FRAKTA bag an icon.

"Achieving a high share of recycled material content in the FRAKTA bag meant overcoming significant technical challenges. Recycled polypropylene requires additional processing and quality control, while redesigning the FRAKTA bag to use a single material involved rethinking key elements of the bag without compromising strength or affordability. Through years of testing and close collaboration with suppliers, the team was able to transform how the FRAKTA bag is made while keeping it recognisably FRAKTA," says Jakub Brat, Engineering Manager at IKEA of Sweden.

More than a shopping bag

Introduced in 1996, the iconic blue bag was originally designed to help IKEA customers transport and protect their purchases on the journey home and quickly became an essential part of the IKEA shopping experience. Over the years, people have adopted it far beyond its original purpose, turning it into a practical solution for everyday life at home and on the go. Today, customers commonly use the FRAKTA bag for everything from laundry and storage to sorting recycling, moving belongings and transporting everyday essentials, with many continuing to use it for years after purchase.

As the FRAKTA bag celebrates its 30th anniversary, the updated version represents a milestone in its history.

The updated FRAKTA bag is now available in IKEA stores worldwide.