IKEA – improved recyclability of packaging

IKEA has reduced its use of EPS packaging filler by 8000 tons per year by replacing it with fibre based recyclable that uses a honeycomb design.

IKEA, the iconic furniture company from Swedish origins, has replaced much of its EPS foam (expanded polystyrene) packaging filler with a recyclable material. EPS cannot be recycled on an industrial scale and has to be landfilled. To reduce its contribution to landfills worldwide, the company worked internally and with suppliers to develop a new recyclable filler material.

The new material had to be as cheap, impact-resistant and easy to use as EPS foam. Through adapting an existing material used for other products such as doors and other board-based products, the company developed a fibre-based material that uses a honeycomb construction. This allowed IKEA to reduce its use of EPS by 8000 tons per year.