Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does IKEA score?

IKEA (Inter IKEA Group + Ingka Group) publishes annual Climate Reports with full Scope 1 and Scope 2 data under GHG Protocol methodology. DitchCarbon reports Ingka FY23 Scope 1 at ~61,500 tCO2e and Scope 2 at ~17,600 tCO2e (market-based). Ingka FY24 ASSR reports operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) reduced by 62.5% since FY16, and by a further 22.3% in FY25 (to -70.6% vs FY16). Reporting covers stores, warehouses, distribution centres and offices across 31 countries. Third-party assurance is re

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does IKEA score?

IKEA reports total value-chain emissions (Scope 1+2+3) of 21.3 million tCO2e in FY24, down 5% from FY23's 24.1 million tCO2e (IKEA Climate Report FY24, January 2025). Scope 3 constitutes approximately 98-99% of total footprint. Material categories quantified include raw materials extraction and processing (46.6% of FY23 total), product use in customers' homes (15.9%), transport, production, food ingredients, and product end-of-life. Supplier engagement programme covers ~1,600 direct suppliers on

Emissions Trajectory: How does IKEA score?

Total IKEA climate footprint (all scopes) was 21.3 million tCO2e in FY24 — a 5% absolute reduction vs FY23 (24.1 Mt) and a 28% absolute reduction since FY16 baseline (~29.5 Mt). Ingka Group specifically reports a 30.1% absolute reduction since FY16 while revenues grew 23.7%, demonstrating genuine decoupling. The trajectory is multi-year and absolute, not intensity-only. However, transport emissions rose slightly between FY23 and FY24, and Scope 1 rose 5% year-on-year in FY24 due to the loss of a

Energy Source: How does IKEA score?

Ingka Group (largest IKEA retailer) sourced 96.6% of its electricity from renewable sources in FY24 across 28 countries, with 100% renewable electricity achieved at IKEA stores and Ingka Centres in 28 countries. This includes 7.9% from on-site generation (PV panels), off-site generation via Ingka Investments-owned wind and solar farms, and energy attribute certificates. EUR 4.2 billion has been invested or committed in renewable energy since 2009. However, overall renewable energy (including hea

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does IKEA score?

IKEA is the world's largest consumer of wood, with wood and paper representing 69% of total materials consumption by weight in FY23 (IKEA Sustainability Report FY23). Multiple credible NGO investigations document serious nature impact: Earthsight's 2020 'Flatpacked Forests' report documented illegal timber from Ukrainian Carpathian forests in IKEA products; a 2024 Greenpeace investigation linked 30 IKEA products sold in 13 countries to destruction of Romanian Carpathian old-growth forests includ

Resource Use & Waste: How does IKEA score?

IKEA has measurable circular targets and published data: 77.7% of operational waste recycled in FY24 (up from 75.9%); 16.2% of wood from recycled sources in FY24; buyback service recovered 495,000 used products in FY24 (rising to 686,500 in FY25); >1 billion EUR committed to recycling infrastructure investment; circular product design guide updated 2024; plastic packaging reduced ~44% vs FY21 baseline. Ingka is aiming for a 'fully circular' business by 2030 with SBTi-aligned targets. However, IK

Water Impact: How does IKEA score?

IKEA discloses that total value-chain water consumption was 544.1 million cubic metres (approximately the year reported by Aquatech, referencing an earlier FY), with materials — including cotton — accounting for 74% of total water consumption in FY23 (IKEA World Water Day 2024 communication). Cotton is a highly water-intensive crop. IKEA has a water agenda in development and monitors water use. However, quantified water reduction targets are explicitly listed as 'under development' in the FY24 I

Targets & Commitments: How does IKEA score?

Inter IKEA Group net-zero targets validated by SBTi in June 2024; Ingka Group net-zero targets validated by SBTi in April 2024. Targets commit to: halving absolute Scope 1+2+3 GHG emissions by FY30 vs FY16; reducing by at least 90% by FY50; net zero by FY50. Explicitly states no reliance on carbon offsets to meet these absolute reduction targets — residual emissions to be neutralised by carbon removal within the IKEA value chain (forestry, agriculture, products). First set SBTi targets in 2018.

Transparency & Accountability: How does IKEA score?

IKEA publishes annual Sustainability Reports and Climate Reports (Inter IKEA Group) and Annual Summary and Sustainability Reports (Ingka Group), both publicly available. Ingka Group has a dedicated Chief Sustainability Officer (Karen Pflug) with board-level oversight. An Inter IKEA Strategic Sustainability Council meets twice yearly. Ingka is preparing CSRD-compliant reporting from FY26, with a Double Materiality Assessment underway. Climate data is third-party limited assured. Trade association

Controversies & Red Flags: How does IKEA score?

Starting at 8. Multiple credible NGO findings applied: (1) Earthsight 'Flatpacked Forests' 2020 — documented illegal timber from Ukrainian Carpathians in IKEA products, with IKEA's own investigation found inadequate by Earthsight (unresolved, -2); (2) Greenpeace 2024 investigation linking IKEA products in 13 countries to destruction of Romanian old-growth forests including Natura 2000 areas, corroborated by Agent Green/Bruno Manser Fonds 2024 year-long investigation finding 50+ suspected forestr

IKEA Sustainability Score: 42/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

IKEA·Retail (non-fashion)·Delft, Netherlands·Founded 1943·Last verified 25 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review+1 since last review

IKEA has credible climate reporting with 28–30% absolute emissions reductions since 2016, but faces severe nature governance failures: Greenpeace and Agent Green documented ongoing old-growth forest destruction in Romania linked to IKEA supply chain and owned land. Water and nature targets remain 'under development'. The company's core fast-furniture model contradicts circular economy claims.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Retail (non-fashion) sector ceiling.

48 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

53 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 48) + (0.7 × 53) = 51.5

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

42 / 100

The ten questions

Where IKEA is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Energy Source (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Water Impact (3/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

24 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported

Ingka Group Reporting Reduction in Climate Footprint by 30.1%

2024

Q1Q4Q8

Every score shows its working.

Where IKEA is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where IKEA sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.

IKEA's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.