IKEA to boost sustainable industrial products, secure jobs for disabled people

14 / 12 / 2021

By Marwa Nassar - -

IKEA will add three new large-scale partners in Southeast Asia. This will create more job opportunities for people in rural areas and marginalized groups, and two of the partners have a special focus on integrating persons with disabilities in their manufacturing.

The collaboration will broaden the range of products produced in a sustainable industrial environment. The first collection VÅRDANDE will launch in June 2022.

“To join hands with three new large-scale partners, create a new possibility for IKEA to offer products made of natural fibers and waste material. These partners are also already well-established manufacturers with the ambition to offer jobs to marginalized groups and people in vulnerable communities in the areas where they operate, says Lena Sörmon, Business Leader Social Entrepreneurship.

The new social business partners are Classical Handmade Products in Bangladesh, Saitex in Vietnam, and Spun in India, all located in areas with marginalized groups. Together, they enable large-scale production of single products and entire collections and will help IKEA provide a more diversified range in materials and techniques.

“A small enterprise cannot change the world, but you can put your drop into the ocean. And every drop count. Together we can create a future formula for success that could be replicated in other factories. Imagine what a huge, massive dent we together would create on this matter” says Sanjeev Bahl, the founder, CEO of Saitex.

Adding the three new social businesses, IKEA is broadening its offerings in stores and online, with more products made of waste materials, natural fibers, and textile responsible produced in a sustainable industrial environment. The first products will be released in the VÅRDANDE collection in June 2022.

Initiated in 2012, IKEA’s partnership with social entrepreneurs has grown steadily ever since, as well as customers’ interest in the broad offering of products. Last financial year, close to 50 products made in partnership with social entrepreneurs were sold on 54 markets.

“We want to be a force for positive change in society and make a long-lasting impact, locally and globally. By expanding the partnerships with large-scale social businesses, we reach people furthest away from the labor market and at the same time we can inspire other brands and suppliers, says Christina Niemelä Ström Sustainability Manager IKEA Supply.