IKEA Korea signs an MOU with the Seoul Design Foundation
Giving second life to IKEA furniture to become fully circular and climate positive.
The MOU was based on the values shared by both IKEA Korea and the Seoul Design Foundation, to create a better everyday life for the many people through sustainable design and circularity to be planet and people positive. The MOU includes both parties utilizing abandoned resources to make a circular society by mutually cooperating and supporting upcycling and recycling projects based on sustainable design to promote the need for and actualization of sustainable living.
IKEA Korea and Seoul Design Foundation will △ cooperate with industry, government, and academia at home and abroad in projects that meet the vision and goals of both parties, △ cooperate to profit the joint objectives of both parties, △ cooperate on upcycling and recycling projects based on sustainable design to make a circular society to be people and planet positive.
“Based on IKEA’s 78 years of knowledge and expertise around life at home, we want to be a part of integrating sustainability in people’s lives and home, making sustainable living more simple, accessible and affordable for as many people as possible,” said Fredrik Johansson, Country Retail Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA Korea. “Through this MOU, we will plan and actively participate in various activities so that the many people can enjoy a sustainable and healthy life at home.”
Choi Kyung-ran, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation stated, “Our business strategy aims to implement sustainable design in all parts of our business and IKEA's design philosophy for the many people shares the same purpose as the Seoul Design Foundation in terms of social contribution. Through this MOU, both organizations can realize the foundation's vision and IKEA philosophy that can change the lives of citizens for the better. We look forward to various collaborations in the DDP design business, caring design, and universal design.”
For the first collaboration between IKEA Korea and the Seoul Design Foundation, the ‘SUP Contribution SUPerbag Sharing Event’ is being held to help children and adolescents grow with upcycling. For this event, Seoul Upcycling Plaza, an organization operated by the Seoul Design Foundation, will produce ‘Upcycle Packages’ to 250 children and teenagers. The packages will consist of ‘SUPerbags’ made through upcycling materials such as scrap textiles and fabrics provided by IKEA Korea, and IKEA art and crafts products.
IKEA has set FY2021 as the ‘Leap Year of Sustainability’ and is engaged in various activities to bring about meaningful change to the local community and the planet with a ‘People & Planet Positive Strategy’. As part of this strategy, ‘IKEA Lab’, a pop-up focusing on sustainability, was opened in Seongsu-dong on November 5 to provide various ideas and inspiration through exciting activities, workshops, exhibitions to meet and engage with the many people and drive a meaningful, long-term impact towards a sustainable future. More information can be found on the IKEA Lab website.