How does IKEA rank on toxic chemicals?

B+

Ikea earned a letter grade of B+, scoring 83.5 out of 135 possible points, for the 3rd highest score of any retailer evaluated (tied with CVS Health). Ikea has an impressive long-term and consistent track record of identifying and phasing out chemicals of high concern in its products well ahead of any government mandate. For example, it eliminated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from all of its textiles in 2016. This was also the first year where 100% of the leather used by Ikea was produced with chrome-free processes. Ikea maintains a sophisticated chemical policy with significant staff management resources dedicated to working with it suppliers on chemical safety (and sustainability) of it products. The company started Ikea GreenTech, an which has invested in DyeCoo Textile Systems, a Dutch company that has developed the first commercially available dyeing technology using no water and fewer chemicals.

Opportunities for improvement: Ikea can implement a more systematic and transparent approach to consumer disclosure of chemical ingredients, become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private label suppliers.

Summary of Ikea’s Grade

12 out of 15 points

Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

Ikea policy sets reduction goals, including the phase-out and ban of multiple chemicals of high concern and chemical classes, and includes Beyond Restricted Substances List (BRSL) of chemicals that are prohibited. Ikea has a formal Chemical Strategy that guides their efforts, which, while not publicly available, was shared with us and is planned to be made public in 2018. Ikea required elimination of use of chromium in the manufacture (tanning) of its leather materials. Although some chromium remains in the leather and can be released and trigger allergic reactions, it appears that their motivation was to reduce environmental pollution and protect leather workers. Additionally, Ikea noted that it implemented a new production technique for artificial leather, cutting levels of the solvent dimethylformamide (DMF) by 80%. Therefore, we give the company credit for having a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) in at least one product category.

8 out of 10 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

Senior managers are assigned, and have specific responsibilities in their job description. The company provided documentation of how board oversight of their chemical safety processes is provided. While the company does not have a direct financial incentive for senior management, partial credit was given for a competitive sustainable design award program called Green Design Awards, which recognized an employee team in 2015 for innovating a textile barrier that eliminates the need for flame retardant chemicals.

10 out of 10 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

Trains suppliers on chemical policy; “systematically follows up on compliance (document review, spot tests, etc.)”; tests during product development, production and spot-tests in internal and external laboratories. Ikea says: “Our supplier code of conduct, the IWAY Standard, plays an important role in positive developments. It specifies our minimum requirements relating to the environment, social impact and working conditions. We visit our suppliers regularly to check that they are following the IWAY Standard. Around 80 Ikea auditors, as well as independent third-party auditors make both announced and unannounced checks at suppliers and their sub-suppliers.” The IWAY standard specified minimum requirements related to suppliers’ chemicals use, labeling and management.

5 out of 10 points

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

Explanation of Points

Ikea’s specification documents for its suppliers require various degrees of ingredient disclosure depending upon the type of product. For “chemical products” including candles that are intended for children, the company requires full information on all ingredients and known impurities that are on its hazard lists, full information on any biocides, and details on all other ingredients constituting >1%. For similar non-children products, it requires information on “hazardous” chemical ingredients or impurities >0.01%.

12 out of 15 points

Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern within the last three years

Explanation of Points

Ikea banned all PFAS in textiles (2016), launched new fire barrier interline without the need for flame retardant chemicals (2015), banned bisphenols in food contact materials (2015), and replaced compact fluorescent lighting with LEDs eliminating mercury (2015). Ikea says that FY 16 was the first year where 100% of the leather used was produced with chrome-free processes, but no metrics on reduction of chemicals used were reported in their FY16 Sustainability Report.

4 out of 10 points

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

Explanation of Points

Ikea evaluates availability and safety of alternatives when targeting chemicals of high concern for replacement. The Ikea Chemical Strategy was updated in FY16 and includes objectives to assess all materials used in Ikea products for chemical safety and to phase out substances or materials that could cause harm. Key performance objectives were set for each objective but not disclosed in their FY16 Sustainability Report. Ikea says that prior to phasing out chemicals of high concern, 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?” While these are the right questions to ask, it’s not clear whether detailed guidance is applied or how suppliers are engaged in alternatives assessments.

7.5 out of 15 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

Explanation of Points

Ikea’s safer chemicals policy and Beyond Restricted Substances List (BRSL) are both publicly available.

Ikea does not appear to have any initiatives dedicated to ingredient disclosure. The detailed “Product Information” for some products featured online include material ingredient content and statements that they do not contain harmful chemicals. However, there’s no way to systematically search for and find products based on their chemical ingredients.

0 out of 7.5 points

Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

Explanation of Points

No discernible progress on chemical footprint.

0 out of 7.5 points

Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products

Explanation of Points

“There are hundreds of environmental certificates in the world. We have chosen not to use them. Instead, our customers can rely on the Ikea logo – it represents our full responsibility for safe, healthy and legally compliant products, produced with as little impact on the environment as possible.” For some products sold online, such as office furniture, Ikea states that “This work chair is durable, safe to use and contains no harmful chemicals. We know this because we have tested it according to the following standards: EN 12520 and EN 1022.”

However, the first standard is not publicly accessible without purchase and the second only addresses general performance and testing criteria, not chemicals of concern.

Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

Explanation of Points

No discernible public commitment via joint announcement.

15 out of 15 points

Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

Ikea has demonstrated significant, consistent, and long-term progress in banning or phasing out chemicals of high concern in its products, including: formaldehyde in wood casings (1993), PVC except for electrical articles (1996), azo dyes releasing carcinogenic arylamines in textiles/leather (1996), all brominated flame retardants except for electrical articles (2000), Cr-VI in chrome plating (2005), BPA in plastic for chidren’s products (0-7 years) (2006), lead in metal fittings (2006), Cr-VI in chromating/anodising (2008), lead in mirror backings (2010), BPA in polycarbonate in food contact products (2012), mercury in light sources (replaced by LED) (2015), and per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles (2016).

0 out of 5 points

Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website

Explanation of Points

No discernible program to feature and market safer products on store shelves and/or website. The company does say that 55% of its products are in the category of “more sustainable” but its sustainability standard does not address chemicals of concern and those products don’t appear to be identified for customers.

5 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

Participated In Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) Retailer webinar series; serves as a member of the Business Group of ChemSec, a European NGO that works for safer chemicals.

5 out of 5 points

Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions

Explanation of Points

Ikea says: “We do invest financial resources into research into eg green chemistry solutions.

Ikea started Ikea GreenTech, an investment company which supports start-up technologies that make our business more sustainable. Ikea GreenTech invests in companies/suppliers working with clean technology, energy management and greener chemistry.

For example Ikea GreenTech has invested in DyeCoo Textile Systems, a Dutch company that has developed the first commercially available dyeing technology using much less water and chemicals. This was described in the sustainability report a few years ago. See more info about Ikea GreenTech on below webpage:

http://ikea.greentechab.com

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