New paper-based fitting bag will reduce plastic consumption by 1,400 tons

During FY25, IKEA Components started replacing its plastic fitting bags with paper-based ones. This shift will reduce annual plastic consumption by approximately 1,400 tons. It is linked to the Plastics Out Agenda, which aims to phase out plastic consumer packaging by 2028 and is an important step towards the IKEA goal of only using renewable and recyclable materials.

Have you ever bought IKEA furniture? If yes, then you’ve most likely ripped open one of the plastic-fitting bags containing the screws, bolts and Allen keys to assemble the product. Starting this fiscal year, plastic bags are gradually being replaced with paper-based bags, with the ultimate goal of reducing virgin plastic consumption by 1,400 tons annually.

"This is a significant step in our journey to reduce plastic usage and shift to more renewable materials. We spent several years testing different material solutions before settling on this paper-based bag. This shift will reduce our virgin plastic consumption by up to 1,400 tons annually. It clearly shows how even the smallest change can generate great results," says Lukas Exner, Production & Distribution Manager at IKEA Components. "The bags are produced in-house using paper made from production waste, allowing us to continue working on phasing out the remaining plastic content."

Implementing the new fitting bags in the range is a gradual process that will be done step by step in different product categories. During FY25, the implementation is focused on product news, such as products in the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection and parts of the running range, such as PAX and KALLAX. This does not mean that customers should expect that the new fitting bags will be included in their flatpacks, but that over time, more and more products will come with paper-based instead of plastic-based ones until 2028. IKEA Components*, the company responsible for sourcing and packing product components, is responsible for this shift. The bags are produced in its factories in Malacky, Slovakia and Nantong, China, using wood residue and waste sourced from external sub-suppliers. To ensure proper durability, the paper-based fitting bags will include a thin plastic coating but will still be recyclable. IKEA is investigating the possibility of replacing this plastic coating with renewable materials.

“By rethinking every detail of our flatpacks, we’re moving closer to our 2028 goal of eliminating virgin plastic and shifting to packaging made from renewable and recycled materials,” says Maja Kjellberg, Packaging Development Leader. "Paper is widely recycled worldwide, and switching to paper cuts plastic waste while inspiring us to rethink every packaging component to support our transition."

IKEA aims to phase out plastic from consumer packaging by 2028. The phase-out will happen in steps, starting with the new range by 2025 and the running range by 2028.