Our view on animal welfare
For IKEA, animal welfare is a central part of responsible agriculture. We are committed to respecting and ensuring animal welfare across the IKEA value chain. We are actively working to improve and continuously raise the level of animal welfare across IKEA, together with partners, and beyond our own value chain as well.
At IKEA, we secure animal welfare requirements through IWAY, our supplier code of conduct. IWAY sets clear expectations and ways of working for environmental, social and working conditions, and it is mandatory for all suppliers and service providers that work with IKEA. The IWAY Animal Welfare Section sets clear requirements for all land-based mammals and birds in the IKEA value chain.
IKEA recognizes that animals are sentient beings and is committed to ensuring their welfare throughout the IKEA value chain. Our animal welfare requirements are based on the Five Domains of Animal Welfare framework, which include nutrition, physical environment, health status, behavioral interactions and mental state. Our animal welfare requirements safeguard the welfare of animals present in the IKEA value chain at all stages of the animals’ lives, from farm to transport, and slaughter.
IWAY 4-step requirements IWAY requirements are based on a 4-step staircase model from Must, Basic and Advanced to Excellent. Must and Basic are minimum and mandatory requirements for suppliers and secure a basic compliance. Together with our supply partners, our ambition is to improve and develop beyond the minimum to reach IWAY Advanced and IWAY Excellent levels to continually raise the level for animal welfare globally, across the IKEA value chain.
IKEA started to roll out the new IWAY Animal Welfare Section in FY25 and will continue to implement the progress over a number of years depending on species and primary product, for example, eggs, beef and pork in food, or wool, down and feathers and leather for home furnishing products. The full implementation shall be completed by December 2030.
Antibiotics Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat for health and development. But antibiotics are still frequently used in animal agriculture to increase growth rates and prevent infections. At IKEA we believe that in order to minimize impacts on public health, antibiotics shall not be used in preventive and growth-promoting measures on animals. Therefore, as a mandatory IWAY Must requirement, antibiotics shall not be used for growth promotion or routine prophylactic treatment. Our ambition is to raise the bar, and hence, on the IWAY Excellent level a requirement is that the highest priority critically important antibiotics1 shall be phased out from use in the IKEA value chain.
Partners and certifications At IKEA, we believe that through the way we run our business we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to be a good example for positive change. We also know that we cannot do this alone, but together with others we can achieve the big positive changes that we want to see for the IKEA business, and in the world. To secure IWAY compliance we conduct regular audits across the supply chain. We also work together with credible third-party certification bodies such as Certified Humane, Beter Leven, RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) and RDS (Responsible Down Standard), to name a few.
Species specific requirements
Cattle At IKEA, we use primary products from cattle in both our food range and in our home furnishing range. For example, beef is a material used in food and leather, a by-product from the food industry that goes to landfill if not used, in home furnishing products. Some species-specific minimum requirements for cattle include that calves are not kept in crates or tethered, and no tail docking or face branding is allowed. For cattle the Advanced and Excellent requirements, for example, entail that the cattle have access to environmental enrichment, such as grooming brushes, when they are not on pasture.
Broiler chickens At IKEA, broiler chickens are used in our food range. Some species-specific minimum requirements for broiler chicken are that broiler chickens are not reared in cages. Our Advanced and Excellent requirements aim for implementation of higher animal welfare requirements. For Broiler chickens one example is access to pecking substrates, perches and platforms.
Laying hens At IKEA, we mainly use the primary product egg from laying hens in our food range. Some species-specific minimum requirements for laying hens include, for example, that hens are not reared in cages and are not induced to moult. IWAY Advanced and Excellent requirements include, for example, that laying hens have access to environmental enrichment to help satisfy natural foraging behavioral needs.
Pigs At IKEA, we mainly use the primary product pork from pigs in our food range. Some species-specific minimum requirements for sows are that they are not kept in gestation sow stalls, and no ear notching or nose ringing is allowed. IWAY Advanced and Excellent requirements include, for example, that pigs are provided with continuous access to environmental enrichment, which is sufficient in quality and quantity to satisfy their needs.
Duck and waterfowl At IKEA, we use down and feather from duck and waterfowl in our home furnishing range for products such as pillows, and duvet covers. The down and feather used in the IKEA range is a by-product from the food industry. Some species-specific minimum requirements for ducks and waterfowl include, for example, that no live plucking of birds is allowed, and farms cannot source animals that were ever live plucked. Another mandatory requirement is that the birds have daily access to an outdoor range area during daylight hours. IWAY Advanced and Excellent requirements include, for example, that the outdoor range area is mainly covered with vegetation and includes shelter (natural and/or artificial), which offers protection from overhead predators and weather.
Sheep At IKEA, we use the primary products from sheep such as wool and sheep skin in our home furnishing range. Wool is, for example, often found in our carpets. A species-specific minimum requirement for sheep is no mulesing, and that sheep shearing is done at least once a year by a competent person. Sheep need to be sheared to ensure good animal welfare, and not let the fleece become too heavy to cause discomfort. IWAY Advanced and Excellent requirements include, for example, that sheep are given permanent access to pasture unless the health and welfare of the animal, weather conditions or the state of the ground temporarily prevent this.
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