IKEA’s first store in India will run on solar power

IKEA’s first-ever store in India was overwhelmed with visitors when it opened in the southern city of Hyderabad this month.

An estimated 28,000 people passed through its doors each day during its opening week, which led to queues of up to three hours.

Public enthusiasm for the global brand is expected to continue with six million visitors in its first year.

IKEA is matching that popularity with an opportunity to promote sustainability and renewable energy.

The store’s new delivery fleet will gradually transition to become fully electric, with a target of 20 per cent during the first year alone. In addition, the new store already comes fitted with 4,000 solar panels on its roof to power its operations.

IKEA is a member of both the RE100 and EV100 initiatives, which promotes the transition to a low-carbon economy. Members pledge to source 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources and seek to make electric vehicles “the new normal” by 2030, according to organisers The Climate Group.

Jarnail Singh, India Director at The Climate Group, commented on IKEA’s commitments: “This is a significant addition to their long-term efforts on a sustainable supply chain, and it’s fantastic for customers to know that their merchandise is produced and delivered without much harm to the planet. We look forward to seeing them achieve their RE100 and EV100 goals in India, sooner than stated.”

The Hyderabad store will shortly be followed by a second outlet in Mumbai next year, with a total of 25 new stores in the country by 2025.

Along with clean energy commitments, IKEA has pledged to transform its business along circular principles. At a recent conference in Sweden, the company announced a move to using only use recycled or renewable materials in the future.

“Our ambition is to become people and planet positive by 2030 while growing the IKEA business. Through our size and reach we have the opportunity to inspire and enable more than one billion people to live better lives, within the limits of the planet” Group CEO, Torbjörn Lööf, said at the time.