Furniture giant IKEA has launched a redesign of its sustainability strategy and plastics are a central focus. The company highlighted a commitment for all plastic material used in its home furnishing products to be 100% renewable and/or recyclable by 2020. The plastics category includes products that IKEA sells, as well as textile products, packaging and components. IKEA also plans to invest in wind and solar power for its own operations.  

The announcements were made in New York by Peter Agnefjäll, IKEA group president and CEO, on the eve of the UN Climate Summit.

"We know that our customers want to save energy and live more sustainably at home, but we believe they shouldn't spend more money or time to do so. That is why we are determined to make sustainability both affordable and attractive to as many people as possible. I am delighted that we can now commit to bringing affordable home solar to a further eight countries, starting with the Netherlands and Switzerland," he said. 

The commitment means that by 2020, the plastic in every IKEA product -- from a washing up brush to a garden chair -- will be made from either recycled plastic or from material such as wood waste. 

"The scale of the climate challenge requires bold commitments and bold action. That is why we are committing to go 100% renewable or recycled material for the plastic we use in our home furnishing products, building on our 100% goal for renewable energy, and our goal for 100% of our cotton and wood to come from more sustainable sources," Agnefjäll said.