Furniture and home decor retail giant Ikea has just announced a new program in the name of sustainability.
For Black Friday, Ikea will allow customers in 27 countries to sell back used Ikea furniture that will then be resold.
“On one of the biggest shopping days of the year, we want to change the conversation from one of mass consumption to mass circularity, and show how sustainable living can be easy and affordable for everyone,” said Melissa Barbosa, head of sustainability at IKEA Canada.
How the Swedish company’s “Sell-Back” program works is as follows: Customers will be given vouchers to spend in-store when they sell back an Ikea product. The voucher’s worth will be determined based on the condition of the item returned. Pieces that are in good condition will be traded with vouchers worth up to 50 percent of the product’s original price.
Prior to arriving at an Ikea store with used furniture for selling back, customers must register for the request online. Not every single piece of furniture is eligible for the Sell-Back program, however many are. These include bookcases, shelving, small tables, desks, stools, chairs, sideboards, dining tables, office chairs, and some children’s items.
All of the furniture Ikea collects through the Sell-Back program will be sold in their stores at discounted prices. The brand also promises to recycle any pieces that are not sold.
Ultimately, Ikea hopes that the Sell-Back initiative will make shopping sustainably much easier and affordable for their customers. The new eco-friendly scheme is just one part of the company’s efforts to become carbon neutral and fully circular by 2030. They have invested more than £2.9 billion into their sustainability programs in recent years.
