So much cardboard is used in IKEA packaging.  In my city, we do not have curbside cardboard recycling, and IKEA does not take back cardboard.  Are there plans for IKEA to start accepting cardboard at its stores?

P.S. Kudos to IKEA for recycling CFL bulbs - it is the only place right now that does.

I am curious as to why in the interview with an IKEA Manager about sustainability there is no mention of The Natural Step by famous oncological physician, Dr. Karl Henrik Robert?????    I happen to have read an interview with Dr. Robert some many years back where he mentions signing IKEA as one of the first companies to initiate The Natural Step.
    I was very impressed with The Natural Step, which came to the U.S. some years ago, but had to draw back because the response was larger than they could handle.   The only one I know of now
existing is in Massachusetts, where they have changed the name to one with "sustainability" in the title.
    Could you let me know if IKEA is still following The Natural Step's program???

Beverly Smith

I don't shop at IKEA anymore, but I did in college and enjoyed it despite my usual abhorrence for the "big box" experience, not to mention their environmental and social problems.  (This is probably because IKEA is set up differently than most big box stores in that it actually tries for an atmosphere through its displays instead of the drab heaps of crap in long, mundane aisles that usual big box stores aspire to.)

Nonetheless, what I admire from this interview is IKEA's and Mr. Bergmark's reversal of the normal modus operandi for large businesses.  IKEA does a lot, and talks a little.  Usually, businesses drool endlessly over their eco-tokenism, using more energy promoting it than actually implementing it.  So it's refreshing to hear this from Mr. Bergmark:

We're definitely not the company that wants to ring the big bell and do a lot of heavy marketing. Actions like the blue bag campaign, now, that's fine, but you will not see campaigns on billboards.

How in God's Green Earth can a company (IKEA) which sells a bunch of particle board bookcases that fall apart and which most people buy and can't understand how to build declare itself "Green".

C'mon, Grist!

I can give a little background on this relationship.  It is true that TNS and Ikea worked together many years ago, specifically in Sweden.  TNS was influential in Ikea's move to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood, as well as reducing toxins in their wood products. TNS and Ikea also worked to reduce the volume of mercury used in CFL's. There work together was primarily an introduction to more sustainable practices for Ikea. As far as I know they haven't worked together for many years but it is nice to hear Ikea getting back to better practices.  As for TNS USA, the office is located in Portland, OR.  TNS is primarily in the business of knowledge sharing so many individuals, organizations, and institutions can adopt their sustainability principles.  TNS is currently nurturing leaders in strategic sustainable development in an international masters program taught in Sweden. That is where I write from and the next time I promise to use a few more acronyms.

I'm happy to confirm that The Natural Step is alive and well in Oregon and that the framework and methodology of The Natural Step are being used by many practitioners throughout the US as well as within the eco-municipality movement.  

"We're focusing more and more on that. First of all, we are setting up an IKEA standard, which includes the different steps in establishing a store. The first step is to look into a site, the land and such, to make sure we are not stepping into any sensitive areas that should be protected for biodiversity or other reasons."

Perhaps infuse some of ideas into IKEA subsidiary SwedWood?

IKEA/SwedWood were blacklisted by Quercus (enviro NGO in Portugal) for building a plant in an area of national ecological interest (Reserva Ecológica Nacional) in Paços de Ferreira in northern Portugal in 2007 (or was it 2006?).

Btw:
the response I received from IKEA/Swedwood when asking them about this was along the lines of stating that it is very common to requalify protected areas in Portugal ... Requalify meaning removing the status as protected area.

Recently the land planning law was changed in Portugal so now the authority to change the status of any land is almost entirely in hands of the municipality. So with progessive politians it might  even lead to improvements, alas, not all politicians are all that progressive ...