IKEA Is Buying Back Used Furniture to Reduce Waste, In 27 Countries

IKEA has always been ahead of the curve, which is one reason everyone loves their modern designs and their famous Swedish meatballs–now offered in a delicious vegan version–and they are at it again. The furniture giant is buying back used furniture in 27 countries, including the UK and Canada (but sadly not in the US), in order to reduce waste and become a more sustainable consumer company.

The idea that you can bring back your used furniture and make some money back is timely and exciting, though geographically frustrating for anyone living in the US since the program is not launching here yet. Here is how it works:  You bring in your used Ikea items and depending on the wear and tear you can sell them back to the retailer for as much as 50 percent of the original price, so instead of those ending up in landfills they will be refurbished for the secondary market. The program starts this November to coincide with Black Friday in an effort to help promote sustainability. The used furniture must be from IKEA, although proof of purchase or a receipt is not needed to participate. (Tell your friends in Canada to do it!)

This buy-back initiative will apply to fully assembled drawer units, tables, chairs, cabinets, desks, shelving, and cupboards. The amount of wear and tear on the items will determine the buy-back price.  Furniture with no major scratches that is in ideal condition will get bought back for 50 percent of the original price; minor scratches and wear will be worth 40 percent of the original price, and well-used items will still be bought back, but for 30 percent of their original price.

This buy-back opportunity from IKEA will start on November 27th and end on December 3rd and will be launching in 27 countries around the world. This could lead to a permanent buy-back operation from the company which has already tested second-hand furniture sales in Glasgow and Edinburgh for over a year now. We can only hope it comes to America.

“By making sustainable living more simple and accessible, IKEA hopes that the initiative will help its customers take a stand against excessive consumption this Black Friday and in the years to come,” said a press release from the company.

These kinds of buy-back operations and repairing, reusing, and recycling that IKEA supports and focuses on are part of a bigger plan to minimize unnecessary waste and help sustainability efforts worldwide.

IKEA has also launched the Food is Precious Initiative in 2017 to help minimize the company's food waste in their popular food courts. By February 2019 IKEA was able to reduce waste by 50 percent and have saved three million meals worth of food from waste. IKEA also announced in 2019 that it will invest $220 million towards becoming climate positive, it will invest the money in green energy, reforestation, and forest protection. IKEA now has many plant-based and vegetarian options available in all of its locations.

“Our ambition is to reduce more greenhouse gas emissions in absolute terms by 2030 than the entire IKEA value chain emits while growing the IKEA business,” said Torbjörn Löf, IKEA Group CEO. IKEA is a reliable furniture brand with good ethics and values behind its products.

Until this program comes to the US, at least enjoy a delicious treat when you next find yourself shopping around IKEA: Their latest vegan lunch offering : Vegan veggie dogs!