IKEA

Policy:Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

18.5 out of 23.5 points

IKEA has a robust written policy that it refers to as its Chemical Strategy. In addition to other documented purchasing policies, it applies to products sold by IKEA sales globally. The Chemical Strategy includes a beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) of chemicals that are prohibited across all product categories as well as more detailed BRSLs for specific product categories. For many chemicals on its BRSL, IKEA notes they are “not allowed to be used,” and this includes, “in any step of the manufacturing process of material and product,” effectively making a subset of its BRSL also a manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL). IKEA has also prohibited the use of several plastics of environmental health concern (PEHCs), including PVC from all its products (excepting some electrical cords, which Ikea says it is still working on replacing), and PC from all food contact and children’s articles. The company has almost entirely eliminated EPS from packaging.

IKEA clarified with us that packaging materials fall under its Chemical Strategy and shared with us a new policy in 2020 setting additional restrictions on paper packaging, including inks and adhesives used, which prohibits the use of a number of CHCs, including bisphenols in inks and many phthalates in inks and adhesives.

While its public-facing documents do not specifically address the applicability of its Chemical Strategy to its internal operations, IKEA informed us that for, “…coworkers clothing, the same requirements applies as the ones we apply to the products we sell to consumers,” and that for “..cleaning products used in the store there are requirements beyond regulatory compliance too.” The retailer backed up the statement on cleaning products with a copy of its policy on Safety and Ecological criteria for Cleaning products and Chemicals which included a BRSL that restricted numerous CHCs, including quats and formaldehyde releasers.

While IKEA has made numerous pledges to fully eliminate a number of CHCs, little information quantifying these commitments with specific future timeframes is publicly available. We have therefore awarded credit for 6 of the 7 policy elements.

Additionally, IKEA has specific requirements to address chemicals of concern in recycled plastic, which it provided to us, and its summary BRSL specifically prohibits the use of, “recycled plastic from electronic products that contains brominated flame retardant,” earning the retailer an extra credit point.

Glossary of Terms

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

2.5 out of 5 points

Senior managers are assigned and have specific responsibilities related to the safer chemicals policy in their job descriptions. The retailer informed us that while it does not have a direct financial incentive for senior management, it offers internal awards to broader groups of employees with financial incentives for innovations, which have included incentives relative to chemical reduction in the past.

Glossary of Terms

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

12.5 out of 15 points

IKEA has documented meeting all four criteria for accountability. In discussing its recent elimination of PFAS chemicals from textiles, IKEA describes its accountability program, stating: “All IKEA products go through a thorough testing process before being put on the market. In order to secure compliance to the requirements IKEA does regular verifying tests both on material and final products. IKEA also carries out random checks and audits.” The retailer has also noted that it requires materials and products to be tested in internal labs and in labs that are external to suppliers, both during product development and while under production. In addition to meeting the specifications for the product, all suppliers contractually agree to meet IKEA’s supplier code of conduct, referred to as the “IWAY Standard,” which outlines expectations for adherence to the retailer’s policies. IKEA provides numerous examples of how it has engaged with and provided training to its suppliers on safer chemicals issues.

Additionally, IKEA has specific policies to test for potential contaminants in recycled materials used in its products, including screening batches of plastics for heavy metals and halogens and screening textiles for APEOs, azo dyes, and PFAS, amongst others. Collectively with other policies on the sourcing of materials, this means that all recycled material entering products is screened, earning 2.5 extra points.

Glossary of Terms

Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

9.5 out of 17.5 points

IKEA’s specification documents for its suppliers require various degrees of ingredient disclosure, depending upon the type of product. For toys, which we consider a major category of articles, the retailer requires reporting of all chemical substances constituting more than 1%, as well as all hazardous substances intentionally added at a level over 100 parts per million and all known hazardous impurities, meeting our definition of full chemical ingredient information for articles. For some formulated products, while the retailer does require various levels of reporting for CHCs, it does not require disclosure of non-hazardous ingredients below 1% by weight and thus does not consistently meet our definition of full chemical ingredient information. In 2019, the retailer started embarking on an effort to require increased disclosure of chemical information from its suppliers of electronics to be completed by 2021, earning a bonus point for setting a deadline to receive information. The retailer also receives a bonus point for the policy’s applicability to multiple major product categories.

Glossary of Terms

Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern (CHCs) or plastics of environmental health concern (PEHCs) within the last three years

15 out of 26 points

In 2020, IKEA phased out titanium dioxide from its children’s art products, eliminating approximately 0.8 tons of it as a result, and eliminated propiconazole as a preservative in outdoor wooden furniture. IKEA’s 2019 sustainability report confirmed it has completed its phase-out of benzophenone from both surface coatings and from polymers. In 2018, IKEA reported to us that it expanded its ban on BPA in children’s products to include related chemicals BPS and BPF as well as phasing out cobalt and two biocides (Biphenyl-2-ol and Sodium-2-biipphenylate) from surface coatings and coverings.

Glossary of Terms

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

9.5 out of 16 points

The IKEA Chemical Strategy includes objectives to assess all materials used in IKEA products for chemical safety and to phase out substances or materials that could cause harm. IKEA says that before phasing out CHCs, the company asks and answers the following questions: “1. Is the chemical really needed? Is the particular property really needed? 2. If yes, can we develop/change the material (with no need for chemicals)? 3. Can an alternative substance be used? Are the alternatives available really more safe? What data are available?” These are the right questions to ask, and while IKEA’s documents do not explicitly detail how this guidance is applied, IKEA provided us with additional information on its alternative screening that demonstrates it meets the Mind the Store campaign’s definition. The retailer does not appear to have integrated this process into the product development process yet.

Additionally, IKEA is a supporter of the ChemSec safer alternatives marketplace, earning an extra point for this action.

Glossary of Terms

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

5 out of 20 points

IKEA’s general BRSL and its manufacturing chemical restrictions, which amount to an MRSL, along with detailed summaries of its safer chemicals policy are publicly available. Additional product category-specific BRSLs and full detail of the company’s Chemical Strategy were provided to us for review, but the full versions are not publicly available.

IKEA does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose ingredients in products online or on product packaging going beyond regulatory compliance. The retailer informed us, though, that “increased transparency is one of the key objectives” of their strategy, and they are investing in systems that will allow them in the “coming years” to provide more consumer-facing information on the chemical make-up of their products.

Glossary of Terms