Working with cotton
The perfect sleep partner
There’s nothing better than snuggling up in bed, in soft, cosy cotton bedlinen. But what goes into producing the softest, crispest, snuggliest bedlinen, and where does our cotton come from? Take our cotton quiz to find out!
Cotton is one of the most popular materials around the home, particularly in the bedroom. Whether you prefer laying on cool, crisp sheets, lounging in linen or snuggling up in a soft, warm flannel duvet, nothing beats the feeling of cotton against the skin. But where does the cotton come from and how is it produced? And how do we know if it’s good for us, or the communities that produce it? Here are just some of the ways that IKEA is making cotton better.
Can you guess?
What is the best climate for growing cotton?
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Not quite. Cotton plants love warm, sunny climates. Pakistan, Brazil, China, USA and Africa are all major producers of cotton.
The journey begins
Cotton comes from the fluffy bolls of the cotton plant. Once picked, the lint and seed are separated. The fibres are then spun and dyed, before the final finishing process to ready fabric.
Cotton should be as good as it feels, which is why the sourcing of cotton is so important. Our virgin cotton comes from a number of the major cotton producing countries, such as Pakistan, Brazil, China, India, Africa and the USA.
At IKEA we work continuously to secure that our products and the materials used in them, are responsibly sourced. Our suppliers follow the IKEA code of conduct, known as IWAY with clear expectations on environmental, social and working conditions.
Tracked and traced
During the ginning process of separating the lint and seed from the cotton boll, the cotton is packed into bales. The bales in the film are given a digital ID number, enabling the tracking of each bale.
Can you guess?
What are the main cotton alternatives that IKEA plans to use more of going forward?
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In fact, they are all correct! We are working to reduce the amount of virgin cotton in our products by using more cotton blended with other materials and increasing our use of recycled cotton. We also plan to use more organic cotton.
Making cotton better
Working with organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), certification schemes and standards such as the Global Organic Textile Standard and more, ensures that the cotton is grown and produced according to common standards.
Since 2015 the virgin cotton used in our products has come from cotton farmers who strive to use less pesticides, fertilisers and water.
A second chance
IKEA is transitioning towards a circular business and is working to increase the use of recycled materials, such as recycled cotton. Our recycled cotton is defined by IKEA as cotton recovered from hard cotton waste, such as yarns, fabrics, garments etc and sourced according to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
Recycled cotton is already used together with virgin cotton in some IKEA products for home textiles, as well as bed textiles. We want to increase the share of recycled cotton even more going forward.
Can you guess?
What are the main benefits of blending cotton with other materials?
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Although providing quality products with an affordable price tag for the many people is one of our design principles, comfort and water efficiency are the main reasons for blending cotton with other materials. For example, viscose and lyocell offer better absorbency and breathability while sleeping, as well as decreasing the use of standalone cotton, which still requires a lot of water for growth and production.
A better sleep
The average adult spends eight hours of each day in slumber, but getting a good night’s sleep is often easier said than done. The touch and feel of our bedlinen can aid relaxation, while breathable materials help create a comfortable sleep climate. Cellulose-based fibres, such as cotton, lyocell and viscose are good for water absorbency and temperature control.
The structure or weave of the fabric also plays a role in moisture management. For example, woven from the finest yarn, percale cotton has a cool, quality feel and sateen has a smooth, silky-soft finish, while flannel is warm, fuzzy and ideal for cold nights.
In the mix
Health and safety are a top priority when creating materials that are close to the skin. At IKEA, when working with chemicals we always consider the necessity of each chemical we use, and we’re always looking for better alternatives.
We are also working to decrease the use of pure cotton by blending it with other materials such as manmade cellulose fibres and bast fibres to strengthen fabric durability and add other look and feel dimensions.
Find out more about our sustainability focus
Take a look at IKEA's sustainability focus areas – from how we work with partners around our supplier code of conduct to our circular agenda and climate agenda ambitions.