IKEA Canada has announced a $300,000 investment over three years in Furniture Bank, a Toronto-based social enterprise tackling furniture poverty across Canada. Building on a successful partnership in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), this funding marks the start of a national expansion to alleviate furniture poverty and accelerate a circular economy.
The IKEA-Furniture Bank partnership has already made a significant impact in the GTA. Through collaborative efforts, more than 25,000 returned mattresses and 10,000 additional household essentials have been diverted from landfills and repurposed to benefit over 11,680 individuals and families. This reuse initiative has an in-kind value of approximately $4 million, preventing 1,734 metric tons of CO2 emissions—equivalent to driving over 7 million kilometers in an average gasoline-powered car.
“Our Life at Home Report indicates that many Canadians struggle with quality sleep, which directly affects health and well-being,” said Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Canada. “Donated mattresses don’t just provide comfort; they lay the foundation for a better future. This partnership showcases our ability to drive social impact while expanding our sustainability goals on a national scale.”
Furniture Bank’s innovative startup incubator equips nonprofits with the tools and training to replicate its model effectively. This includes access to digital marketing platforms, call centers, and logistics systems. IKEA’s investment will enable the onboarding of nonprofit organizations in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, and Winnipeg, with plans to include other communities hosting IKEA stores in subsequent phases.
Dan Kershaw, Executive Director of Furniture Bank, highlighted the importance of the collaboration: “Unlike other retailers who prioritize destruction or bypass social good through liquidators, IKEA Canada truly lives up to its commitments. This investment empowers us to expand our proven model and create a more sustainable future.”
Earlier this year, IKEA Canada committed an additional $120,000 to Furniture Bank’s Sleep Well initiative. Focused on providing essential sleep items to children, this program ensures families have access to complete bed kits and other furnishings. The initiative delivers immediate comfort and supports healthier physical and mental development.
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Contact UsIKEA Canada has embedded sustainability into its core operations through a strategy that aligns with the global IKEA People & Planet Positive 2030 framework. Focused on sustainable living, circularity, and social equity, the strategy highlights IKEA Canada’s commitment to creating lasting positive impacts on people and the planet.
IKEA Canada empowers individuals to adopt sustainable practices at home, aiming to inspire over a billion people globally to live better while staying within the planet's ecological boundaries. Key initiatives include:
As part of its goal to become circular and climate-positive, IKEA Canada has launched several groundbreaking programs:
IKEA Canada’s sustainability strategy extends to fostering social equity and community empowerment:
These efforts have earned IKEA Canada the title of one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 16 consecutive years, reflecting its unwavering dedication to sustainability and corporate responsibility.
