IKEA Canada recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the 7th time

BURLINGTON, ON, April 22, 2015 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the seventh consecutive year by Mediacorp, for its continued commitment to sustainability. This special designation recognizes employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organization.

"At IKEA, sustainability is an integral part of our business strategy and I am proud to say that our co-workers are responsible for much of our success in this arena." says Stefan Sjöstrand, President, IKEA Canada. "Our goals are to inspire and enable our customers to live a more sustainable life at home through the products we offer and to have a positive impact on the planet through our own business practices."

To get their co-workers fully engaged, IKEA launched the More Sustainable Life at Home project in 2014. 170 co-workers from across Canada have been given $500 worth of IKEA products to use at home that save energy, conserve water and help in waste reduction.

"These co-workers have been able to see a noticeable difference in their daily living." continues Sjöstrand. "They are now able to inspire and educate other co-workers and customers about the sustainability benefits of the products they have tested and how easy and cost-effective it is to live a more sustainable life at home."

IKEA is equally committed to operating their business in a responsible manner. Globally, IKEA has an ambition to be energy independent by 2020. In Canada, the retailer has more than achieved this goal in 2015. IKEA Canada now produces more than double the renewable energy that it takes to operate its 12 stores through its wind farm in Alberta, solar panels on the roofs of three Ontario stores as well as housing Manitoba's largest geothermal installation. 

Some of the additional initiatives that identify IKEA as one of Canada's Greenest Employers include:

• IKEA Canada's waste reduction & recycling program that encourages co-workers to get involved in maximizing the amount of waste sorted at the stores. IKEA co-workers have achieved an impressive 84% waste diversion in the last fiscal year.
• IKEA Canada's partnership with waste management company Cascades Recovery closes the loop on IKEA's paper and cardboard streams. These materials are sorted by IKEA co-workers at all IKEA locations and collected by Cascades to produce 100 per cent post-consumer recycled content paper towels and bathroom tissue that are in turn used in IKEA stores across the country.
• IKEA Canada's 19 year partnership with Tree Canada, whereby IKEA co-workers have planted over 25,000 mature trees and shrubs since 1997.
• IKEA Canada has a sustainability responsible person at every store across Canada who works with the management group to achieve our sustainability goals.
• IKEA Foundation remains the largest corporate donor to UNICEF, Save the Children and UNHCR. Each year IKEA Canada stores participate in fundraising campaigns, run by IKEA co-workers, to support these global partners.

To read more on Mediacorp's editorial selection of IKEA in their 2015 Greenest Employer list, visit www.eluta.ca/green-at-ikea-canada.

About IKEA Canada:
IKEA is a leading home furnishings retailer with 315 stores in 27 countries worldwide, which are visited by 716 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores which are visited by over 25 million people every year. Last year the IKEA.com websites attracted 1.5 billion visitors. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca.

SOURCE IKEA Canada

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