Promoter organisation: Ikea
Country: Global
What: The company’s goal has been to halve food waste in its own operations compared to 2020.
Food loss and waste transpires in every part of the supply chain, so everyone has to take part in addressing it. Due to their extensive reach and high level of visibility, the larger restaurant and retail chains like IKEA can support drive systemic change by setting ambitious food-waste reduction targets and sharing the data achieved.
A system that uses artificial intelligence, which helps to reduce the generation and amount of waste. Introduced in 2020. With the help of information, even the causes of loss are addressed..
In 2022, Ingka group, IKEA’s largest retailer, made public that the company had cut food waste by 54% across all its restaurants in 32 markets globally.
How: By tracking and measuring food waste and turning this knowledge into tactile action. In addition to this, with the help of staff training and artificial intelligence, the aim was to halve food waste. The remaining waste is processed into biogas.
When: In 2022 Ingka Group announced that that they had cut down food waste by 54%.
Why is it relevant. Pease describe SUSTAINABILITY (in environmental context), EFFICIENCY (in social/financial context), TRANSFERABILITY and INNOVATION aspects
Environmental impact: The reduction is equivalent to saving more than 20 million meals. It also avoids 36,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year — equivalent to taking over 8000 cars off the road annually.
Economical impact: It saves IKEA $37 million annually. This achievement demonstrates that diminishing food loss and waste is beneficial not only environmentally and socially, but also for businesses’ bottom lines.
Social Impact: Other retailers, food producers and distributors can acquire a knowledge of the company’s example to help conduct a sustainable food system within reach.
Target Groups: Retailers, food producers, consumers, staff, distributors.
Innovations: Innovations are numerous especially by utilizing the AI.
RESULTS OF THE GOOD PRACTICE
- Some major reductions of greenhouse gas emissions annually
- Educational impacts in societies globally, both on an individual as well as on business level
- Offers the possibility for consumers to purchase and enjoy sustainably produced food at a very affordable price
- A global example to others of the business concept where sustainability and profitability is made possible at the same time
IKEA Becomes First Global Company to Halve Food Waste | World Resources Institute (wri.org)