IKEA owner sets aside 4 billion euros for green power projects

Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores, has earmarked 4 billion euros ($5 bln) to invest in wind and solar projects, and possibly also in energy storage, hydrogen fuel development and charging infrastructure.

Companies of all kinds are increasing their investment in a lower carbon future in response to investor pressure and as momentum builds ahead of the next round of U.N. climate talks to be hosted by Britain later this year.

Ingka, the main franchisee to brand owner Inter IKEA, has over the last decade spent 2.5 billion euros ($3.0 billion) on wind and solar power. It said in January its energy production exceeds the total used at stores and warehouses.

The earmarking of 4 billion euros “marks the next step towards 100% renewable energy across the value chain,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. It did not give a time span.

“The investments will focus on adding wind and solar projects in new countries, and the company will also consider new types of investments in areas such as energy storage, hydrogen fuel development and charging infrastructure,” it said.

IKEA aims to be climate positive – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than the entire IKEA value chain emits, from raw material production to customers’ disposal of their furniture – by 2030.

Inter IKEA has said the 2030 target translates into a cut of at least 15% from baseline year 2016 to 20.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. In the 12 months through September 2020 they totalled 21.2 million tonnes.

Measures to reach the target range from reducing carbon already emitted, such as through buying and sustainably managing forests, to supporting suppliers in switching to renewable energy.

Ingka, the world’s biggest furniture retailer, this month announced its first renewable energy investment in Russia, in solar parks with capacity to power all IKEA stores, and part of its shopping malls, in the country.

• IKEA’s second life for furniture program is already available in Hungary!

Read alsoIKEA takes a stand (again) supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary

Source: Reuters