IKEA to Phase out Incandescent Lighting in All US IKEA Stores Beginning August 1, 2010

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Switch On. Switch Off. Switch Over. IKEA makes the change for a brighter future. Starting August 1, 2010, IKEA will begin to phase out all incandescent light bulbs in their US stores. This recent IKEA environmental initiative has a target date of incandescent bulb elimination by January 1, 2011. The aggressive IKEA US store phase out program exemplifies IKEA’s strong commitment to helping their customers live an everyday sustainable life. IKEA will be the first US retailer to completely phase out incandescent light bulbs.

“As a leading retailer, IKEA will also be educating its customers to choose more energy-efficient lighting technologies, and thus helping to speed the coming market transition.”

“IKEA is committed to integrating sustainability into all IKEA strategies and practices in the entire product life cycle. We also believe our customers are looking for every day environmentally responsible solutions for themselves. Eliminating incandescents is a simple way to lead the charge for IKEA customers to use energy saving light bulbs, thus reducing energy consumption and reducing the amount of greenhouses gases. It’s a little step with a big impact on our planet,” commented Mike Ward, US IKEA President.

The IKEA phase out will come in advance of the federal legislation that will begin to phase out incandescent light bulbs in 2012. IKEA is taking the lead before this new legislation takes effect.

“It’s important for major retailers to take a step, because what they do will have a major impact,” commented an IKEA Stoughton, MA store customer.

IKEA customers will have a good choice of other effective energy saving bulbs. While the compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is the most popular bulb, IKEA also offers a range of LED lamps which are 70% more efficient than using incandescent bulbs. IKEA Halogen lamps which consume 30% less energy are also a great ‘white light’ alternative. And beginning fall, 2010, IKEA will offer a halogen bulb which can be used in a standard light socket. This is called a retro-fit halogen bulb. IKEA also offers solar powered lamps including their SUNNAN desk lamp and their ‘SOLIG’ range of outdoor lights.

"By only putting good options on the shelf, retailers can make it easy for customers to do the right thing--in this case, reduce their energy use and impact on the environment," said Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). "As the first major retailer to completely phase out incandescent bulbs, we hope IKEA's leadership will be contagious."

“The Alliance to Save Energy is very pleased to recognize IKEA for its steps in phasing out sales of inefficient incandescent light bulbs well ahead of the 2012 implementation date of new federal standards,” commented Jeffrey Harris, Vice President for Programs, Alliance to Save Energy. “As a leading retailer, IKEA will also be educating its customers to choose more energy-efficient lighting technologies, and thus helping to speed the coming market transition.

Did You Know?

IKEA offers lighting solutions that are more efficient and have less negative impact on the environment.

CFLs last from 6-10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs (6000 - 10,000 vs. 1,000 hours) and use 80% less energy. Due to this lower energy use, they can save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime. (EnergyStar.gov)
If every American household replaced 1 incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for 1 year. (EnergyStar.gov)
According to 18seconds.org, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL, we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than two million cars and families would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. The average American family spends $1,900 on energy bills each year. (green.yahoo.com/18seconds)
Lighting expenses account for almost 25% of electricity costs of customer’s homes. (EnergyStar.gov)
Halogen bulbs use 30% less energy and last 2-4 times longer than conventional bulbs.(IKEA Group)
IKEA LED lights use 70% less energy and burn at least 20 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. (IKEA Group)

CFLs contain a very small, controlled amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – less than 1% of the mercury that is contained in older thermometers. CFLs - like paint, batteries and thermostats – must be disposed of properly and according to local regulations.

From 2001- 2007, IKEA was the first and only retailer offering its customers an environmentally safe recycling program for CFLs. In their fiscal 2006 year, IKEA recycled 126,722 CFLs. Customers can take any used, carefully wrapped CFL bulbs to a local IKEA store and dispense in the CFL recycle bin positioned near the exits.*

The IKEA phase out of incandescent light bulbs is just one of many sustainable initiatives that IKEA has taken. The recent IKEA Sustainability Report clearly outlines many other programs and actions that IKEA has and will take to lessen the company’s impact on the environment and be a responsible global citizen.

Clearly, Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb discovery was a landmark 19^th century invention. But times have changed. New discoveries prevail. And everyday sustainability practices are important to IKEA customers. People are questioning old habits and creating new lifestyles with a charge to be environmentally responsible - everyday in some simple way. Notably, it’s a never ending job!

About IKEA:

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, was founded in 1943 in Sweden. Since then, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of great design and quality with functional living solutions at everyday low prices. Currently there are more than 300 IKEA stores in 37 countries, including 49 in North America (11 in Canada; 37 in the US; 1 in the Dominican Republic). IKEA has six distribution centers in North America, with a manufacturing facility in Danville, VA. IKEA has been named to Business Week’s List of The Best Global Brands (August 7, 2006) for four consecutive years and Business Week’s List of the Top 2009 Twenty Best Companies for Leadership (February 2010). Additionally, IKEA has been listed on Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” for four consecutive years. IKEA was also listed in March 2007, on Fast Company’s Fast 50, for its environmentally responsible products, as well as for five consecutive years in Training magazine’s annual list of top companies that excel at human capital development. TIME Magazine (May 2009) listed IKEA as one of the top 8 most global eco conscious companies. IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into day-to-day business and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment including UNICEF, Save the Children and American Forests. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to www.IKEA-usa.com and also learn more about IKEA environmental and social responsibility actions and programs. Also visit www.Facebook.com/IKEAUSA.

*IKEA follows all safety standards for disposing of CFL bulb materials. CFLs disposed at IKEA recycle bins are taken by approved CFL recyclers, who are experts in recycling CFLs and other processes as well. When a recycler picks up the recycled materials at IKEA, they separate the glass and plastic (ballast part) of the CFL.

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