The IKEA patented Loading Ledges are a smart alternative to traditional wooden pallets. Instead of a pallet’s rigid platform, ledges are flexible, expanding and contracting to the size of the load. The Loading Ledges are made from polypropylene plastic that is continuously recycled and made into new ledges. Their size and shape are optimized for containers, so load units are easily handled with forklifts. Thanks to ledges’ low weight, containers can be loaded with two tons more goods than if wooden pallets were used.

In 1999, as a move towards more sustainable transportation, we switched all goods transport from the central warehouse in Älmhult to the stores in Stockholm from road to rail. The trains run on electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Today one train with 15-20 fully loaded wagons leaves Älmhult for Stockholm every day.

Sometimes business travel can be replaced by technical solutions for virtual meetings, like video, web and telephone conferences. At IKEA we work to reduce business travel. That will not only reduce environmental impact, but could improve the work-life balance for IKEA co-workers. In 2008, travel costs were reduced by 20 percent compared to the previous year…which also reduces our CO₂ emissions.

Lee, a co-worker in one of our California stores, came up with a way to improve the packaging of ALÄNG table lamps. Lee discovered that the box could be shrunk as much as 30 percent if only the lamp’s components were rearranged. So, Lee tipped off IKEA packaging technicians in Sweden who, in turn, conferred with suppliers. Now, thanks to a great initiative and teamwork, each pallet holds 24 ALÄNG lamps compared to only 18 before.