In the first six months of the "Bag the Bag" program, IKEA Canada has reduced its Plastic Bag use by 90 per cent across the country. Last October, IKEA Canada conducted a survey with its customers and received more than 60,000 responses, which concluded that plastic bags were an environmental issue that needed action. Shortly thereafter, the retailer began charging for its plastic bags, donating the full $0.05 to Tree Canada.
In the first six months of the program, more than $102,000 has been raised for Tree Canada who has been a corporate partner with IKEA for over a decade. The funds raised from plastic bag sales will go to support tree planting projects across the country.
On June 16, 2008 the retailer launched http://www.theikeaway.ca/ to clearly articulate "The IKEA Way" which in essence, describes the company's ongoing commitment to responsibility for people and the environment. This website provides a great deal of content regarding the activities of IKEA and its suppliers, but will also collect customer insight through a series of ongoing surveys to measure attitude and opinions of consumers about barriers and drivers regarding social and environmental (S&E) products, how S&E impacts their decision making process, local and ethical sourcing, impact of operational efforts by corporations and their concerns about "green washing".
The results will be published on theIKEAway.ca and will be shared with customers and the retail industry alike.
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