14 Aug Sustainability at IKEA Part 3: Round Rock Store
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with the marketing/public relations specialist and the store manager of our local IKEA store in Round Rock. They see their biggest environmental impacts as energy use and solid waste. Much of our discussion focused on these issues plus a few others.
Energy
To offset the store's energy consumption, they've covered their approximately 300,00 square-foot roof with nearly 7,000 solar panels. These panels will generate about 2.4 million kWh/year of electricity, enough energy for around 200 homes. The installation is set to begin producing electricity in September this year. All the electricity will initially go to the store. They haven't figured out how they might be able to put it into the power grid.
Waste
Everything comes in a box. Most of the store's waste is packaging: pallets, cardboard, plastics. Fortunately, the vast majority of this is recycled. Their waste diversion from landfill is about 97%.
They also mitigate customer waste generation in several ways. Plastic bags are not offered at checkout. They take back all used IKEA mattresses of any age and pay for the recycling of them. Recycling bins are strategically located near the store's entrance and the cafe by the exit.
Employees
Environmental and sustainability issues have been a part of IKEA's required employee (co-worker) training for more than 20 years. This year the company is re-invigorating efforts to build their NEVER ENDING list of improvements with co-worker training courses and a publication called "The NEVER ENDING Story".
The store encourages co-worker participation in the sustainability team and a fun competition. The facilities, operations and store managers are required to serve on the sustainability team, but any other interested co-worker is welcome to join. There are also suggestion/comment boxes for both employees and customers. Every year the store has a Recycle Build-Off for co-workers. A few years ago a co-worker built an entire motorcycle from post-consumer materials!
Local Community Involvement
Both globally and here in Central Texas, IKEA's community efforts focus on children and the environment. The Round Rock store sponsored a session at the GoGreen Austin conference back in April. The store donated furniture for a student-built model sustainable home at Central Texas College in Killeen. They've provided IKEA gift cards to homeless youth in the Lifeworks apartment decorating design contest. They also work with the United Way of Williamson County and the Swedish School in Manor.
Food
The IKEA Round Rock store restaurant and cafe generally serve food provided by a national supplier. They sometimes get locally-produced fruits and vegetables. And, of course, much of their processed/packaged food items are imported.
If you visit . . .
Here are a few things you may want to try if/when you visit the Round Rock store:
- Look for the sustainability settings. There are three sustainable room settings with green tags on various items that tell you about IKEA's efforts to make their product more sustainable and also things you can do around your home to be more sustainable. I checked out a bedroom setting located in the showroom area. Can you find the other two?
- Pick a product that doesn't have much information about its materials or chemicals, etc. on its labeling. Ask an IKEA co-worker to look up this information in the company's ISELL database.
- Submit an idea for IKEA to improve its operations. Look for the forms and drop box by the restaurant restrooms.
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