Week Three: Ethics and Social Responsibility

"Making more from less."

For the last four years, as of 2010, Ikea was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute.  Ethics basically means the moral principles, or values, based on the ideas of right and wrong.  Some of Ikea's values are to be efficient, cost-conscience, respectful, have trust, and simplicity.

 "The Ikea business shall have an overall positive impact on people and the environment."

Ikea is big on helping the environment and green marketing, which is the development and marketing of products designed to minimize negative effects on the physical environment or to improve the environment. From the LACK series to the solar powered SUNNAN Lamp, Ikea keeps thinking up ways to help the environment and efficiently use it's resources, in the smallest amount, to make the best products possible.  For example, Ikea's Never Ending List, which not only includes products, but projects that have to do with the world's resources Ikea uses, such as cotton and wood, and people around the world, including preventing child labor.

Ikea's tries to minimize its use of wood in its furniture, like using hollow legs in furniture and filling it with chipboard, and the same goes with cotton.  Ikea tries their best to find alternatives, or some other way of blending cotton with other materials to reduce cotton use.  Throughout their supply chain they try to promote efficent use of energy and water. 

One of Ikea's biggest partnerships, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) works with Ikea to promote responsible forestry, which began in 2002.  They also work together on efficent and renewable use of energy, and finding better cotton growing methods.  Another big partnership Ikea has is with UNICEF (United States Fund), since 1988.  Together they have a successful soft toy campaign, which follows a long time UNICEF program for children in the developing countries.

"A big blue bag. A little green step."

Another campaign from Ikea, alone, is it's Big Blue Bag.  On October 1st, 2008, Ikea stopped using plastic bags and came up with the Big Blue Bag, which holds as much as five plastic bags hold for only fifty-nine cents.  It's the easiest and least expensive way to reduce your carbon footprint that you can pick up during your visit to Ikea.

And lastly, Ikea's AS-IS Department, which offers you a lower price in exchange for your old product.  The AS-IS Department is located near the cash lines where you will see clearance items, overstocks, discontinued products, and display merchandise with discounts off the original prices.