Ikea, through its umbrella company, the Ikea Group, announced on Friday its intention to make all of its home delivery systems in key global cities become sustainable and emission-free, a plan which the firm intends to implement into full gear by 2020.
The Swedish furniture retailer said in a statement that the company is now eyeing to use electric vehicles or other transit systems with zero emission in its home deliveries in the next two years, according to Reuters. This would comprise 25 percent of Ikea's delivery service.
The blue and yellow firm seeks to revamp its entire last-mile delivery systems into the same manner by 2025, the news outlet added.
In the meantime, the cities which will get to benefit from this initial transition phase include New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Paris, and Shanghai, the report from Fast Company said.
This initiative is part of the company's continuing efforts to cut its carbon footprint. It is also their long-term goal to become CO2 emission-free or carbon positive.
Jesper Brodin, the current CEO of Ikea Group, said and was quoted over by the website, that the furniture dealer recognizes the reality of climate change and its impact not only in the business but also in the lives of their workers and customers.
The Ikea chief reiterated the company's aim to be a leader in the advocacy to save Mother Earth, which is why they are speeding up their EV-delivery system plans.
As further revealed by Fast Company, Ikea is now working with various vehicle manufacturers and local city governments in the implementation of its zero-emissions delivery.
It is likely that the first delivery vehicles to see the application of this plan are electric delivery trucks. Ikea has previously been working with electric cargo bikes and other EV technology for this same purpose.
Brodin did point out that there will be some hurdles to meet along the process. However, the company has been collaborating with other institutions such as the Science-Based Targets Initiative. This organization help companies measure their carbon emissions and at the same time create for them detailed plans on how to reduce their carbon outputs.
Commitment for Greener Earth
In September 2017, Ikea Group announced its involvement in the EV100 - an organization of companies committed to shifting into electric vehicles and making it the new norm by 2030. Ikea is one of the first companies to do so, a report from Benzinga said.
