Will We Buy Solar Panels At Ikea?
Conference:Improving Opportunities And Outcomes For Indigenous Jobseekers
August 30, 2008ONE Bucket Of Water To Wash The Family Car?
September 1, 2008Ikea – the ‘cheapie’ Swedish housewares store we can’t do without – is planning to invest 50 million euros in cleantech start-ups with the with the goal of eventually selling solar panels, smart meters and other technology in its stores.
The Australian Ecodirectory Greenpages’ David Ehrlich from Cleantech Group says Ikea should make the first investments this year.
A European Start
Most of the investments would initially be concentrated in Europe but other regions for potential investment projects will also be considered. Ikea currently has about 270 stores worldwide with 5 locations in Australia’s capital cities
A Focus On Five Areas
Ikea GreenTech plans to focus on five areas:
- solar panels
- alternative light sources
- product materials
- energy efficiency
- water saving and purification
Johan Stenebo of Ikea Greentech says these products will follow the same guidelines as the company’s other products – ‘really low prices and very good quality’.
Over the next two years, Ikea plans to work with five or six companies, with a target of bringing the first products to market within three to four years, helping the startups reduce their prices and develop better products.
Ikea expects to invest in five to 10 companies overall, keeping the portfolio relatively small so it spend a lot of time with the startups.
“We will be very active on the boards of these companies…I think we can contribute somewhat in terms of commercializing the product they are developing, and then, obviously, distributing the product as well,” says Johan.
Times, they are a-changin’….
3 Comments
Way to go Ikea! What a great initiative on their part.
Go Ikea, But it really should be our local shires/councils who should be encouraging this. They could resell the panels, small profit back to them, more enviromentally friendly ratepayers. Win,win,win situation for all
Linda off the grid now!
I totaly agree with Linda, Go Ikea, we just cant live without it. Holiday accommodation is sooo easy to furnish with quality products from Ikea and i also agree with Linda that local councils should support innovative ideas and research to preserve our magnificent planet. It all should start from our own backyard. Every little bit helps. We are educating our visitors in our farmstays how to minimise waste and utilise the natural resources wisely. Protect the farms and the wildlife without compromising 21st centure comfort.