Securing responsible sourcing through IWAY
We believe that everything we do comes with taking responsibility for the impact on people, society and the planet across our value chain. But we can only do this if our business partners share our vision and commitment to sustainability. That’s why we have IWAY, the IKEA code of conduct for suppliers.
What is IWAY?
IWAY is the IKEA way of responsibly procuring products, services, materials and components. It sets clear expectations and ways of working for environmental, social and working conditions, as well as animal welfare, and is mandatory for all suppliers and service providers that work with IKEA.
Since 2000, when we first introduced IWAY, we have built a credible and robust system that we can rely on to support, challenge, and actively work with together with our suppliers.
With IWAY we create impact in 4 main areas by:
- Working with suppliers to promote responsible sourcing practices
- Securing decent and meaningful work for workers
- Respecting children’s rights
- Improving the welfare of animals in the IKEA value chain
Watch: IWAY, the IKEA way of working with suppliers
IWAY is based on internationally recognised standards and principles for human rights, environmental protection and worker health and safety, as well as on our own IKEA values and legal compliance. It’s the foundation for our overall sustainability work, both together with our direct suppliers and sub-contractors in the whole value chain.
A look at IWAY requirements
IWAY is structured around 10 principles which reflect the IKEA standpoints on different environmental and social topics:
IWAY principles:
- IWAY principles are supported by effective routines and open dialogue
- Business is conducted lawfully and with integrity
- Children are protected and opportunities for work, learning and family life are promoted
- Fundamental labour rights are respected
- Workers have time off work, are paid responsibly and have opportunities to develop competence
- Workers’ health and safety are protected
- Working and living conditions are suitable
- The planet is protected
- Resources, including water and waste, are managed in a sustainable and circular way
- Animals live decent lives
Each of the 10 IWAY Principles is, in turn, supported by IWAY requirements. If you want to learn more about the IWAY requirements, please read the IWAY Standard and respective IWAY Sections.
IWAY principles are based on internationally recognised standards and principles, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, among others.
At the heart of IWAY is an approach to continuously develop the framework together with suppliers, with the goal to collectively achieve responsible sourcing and a more sustainable IKEA value chain. We define minimum mandatory requirements but encourage our suppliers to develop above and beyond them. For this, we have a staircase model for the IWAY requirements that promotes suppliers to focus on continual improvement and development around IWAY topics.
Always improving – the IKEA way
We have been working with IWAY since 2000 and are continuously revising it to make sure that it stays relevant, reflects global changes and challenges and it contributes to the commitments in the IKEA Sustainability Strategy and the IKEA Supply Strategy.
Currently, we are working with IWAY 6, which was introduced to suppliers in September 2020. This latest version of IWAY is a total system upgrade, that introduced improved ways of working as well as new topics, such as biodiversity and conservation of natural resources, animal welfare and an increased focus on the competence development of workers.
One of the important changes in IWAY 6 is shifting the focus from only conducting audits at our suppliers to also focusing on providing more support to them to achieve the best possible results now and in the future. It’s about both ensuring compliance as well as supporting a continuous and sustainable development.
We want to be a force for good for people, society and the planet at every step in the IKEA value chain. This means we are taking IWAY further down the IKEA value chain, to the sub-suppliers of our direct suppliers and all the way to the source of raw materials. We are at the beginning of this journey and are working together with our suppliers, IKEA teams and other external stakeholders.
We want IKEA to be an example of how a business can operate responsibly. IWAY contributes to building a strong sustainable foundation for the IKEA value chain and continual development for ourselves and our suppliers.