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IKEA is large enough to set trends in the marketplace.  When they introduced a 0.05$ charge to take a plastic grocery bag, people took notice.

In the first six months of the “Bag the Bag” program, IKEA Canada has reduced its Plastic Bag use by 90 per cent across the country. Last October, IKEA Canada conducted a survey with its customers and received more than 60,000 responses, which concluded that plastic bags were an environmental issue that needed action. Shortly thereafter, the retailer began charging for its plastic bags, donating the full $0.05 to Tree Canada.

Other grocery and department stores hopefully took notice.  But more importantly it exposed the ‘concept’ to the masses, making it palatable for future use elsewhere in the country.

Hopefully a few other trends take hold.  Such as their testing and reduction of VOCs and specifically formaldahyde in thier particle board furntiture.  Here is an interesting exchange between a customer and IKEA.  The last thing you want to be doing is filling your home with toxic (yet sooo affordable) goods.

Another trend we admire for the present moment is the ‘family’ parking spaces they allocate near the entrance.  While they could never fully meet the needs of the high percentage of parents with babies in tow (have you ever been for breakfast on a Tuesday?) they at least make an effort.

So the only downside to this visit was found near the exit (no not the lineup), it was this display.

Perhaps a letter or three would get them to ditch selling single use Alkaline batteries… while they do offer a recycling service (kudos), rechargables would be a better option.

Tags:   Alkaline · Batteries · Formaldahyde · IKEA · Montreal · Parking · Plastic Bags · VOC1 Comment