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4th June 2008

IKEA ‘BRANCHES’ OUT FOR WORLD ENVIRONMENT WEEK

To mark World Environment Week, IKEA Belfast has partnered with the Woodland Trust to replant 1,000 native trees at Carnmoney Hill – representing two saplings for every IKEA Belfast co-worker. The Swedish home furnishings giant will also hold a week-long awareness-raising week from the 1st – 7th June in its Belfast store involving local partners including the National Trust and the Carbon Trust.

 
     

IKEA Belfast’s Environmental specialist, Nigel McGarry, said, “IKEA Belfast is using World Environment Week to highlight some exciting projects and partnerships. Our partnership with the Woodland Trust has already made a real difference to Carnmoney Forest and plans are also underway to create new wildflower meadows at the forest, which was damaged by arsonists last April.

 

“Through the IKEA Family card, our customers can play their part in reducing their carbon footprint. Every time our loyalty card is swiped, IKEA donates a foot of forest to the Woodland Trust. We hope that our in-store activities during World Environment Week will help raise awareness of what everyone – both companies and individuals - can do to help the environment”, says Nigel.

 

During World Environment Week, IKEA Belfast will have a number of special events including a special performance by the Really Rubbish Orchestra. IKEA’s environment partners including National Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, RSPB, the Carbon Trust, the Energy Saving Trust, Ulster Wildlife Trust, Macmillan Cancer, Translink, Honda and Woodland Trust will all have an in-store presence throughout the Week.

 

The IKEA Belfast store has a target of recycling over 90% and is currently recycling 94% of all its waste and, earlier this year, worked with the RSPB to build nests in Belfast Lough for Tern birds with IKEA waste wood.

 

Ends

 

Media contact: Rosemary Allister, JPR, rosemary.allister@jprni.com or 028 9076 0066

 

Editors’ Notes:

  • World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 and is commemorated each year on 5 June.  This year, World Environment Day will focus on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities - and on the ensuing consequences of this around the world.
  • The slogan for World Environment Day this year is “Kick the Habit! To a Low Carbon Economy”.
  • IKEA’s social and environmental policy refers not only to IKEA co-workers and customers but also to suppliers.  The ‘IKEA Way of Purchasing Home Furnishings Products’ (IWAY) was introduced in 2000 to define the minimum demands expected of all suppliers regarding social and working conditions, child labour, environmental and forestry.
  • IKEA has decided to change all company cars to a more environmentally responsible option.  70% of the car fleet will be changed to Honda Hybrids before the end of June 2007.  The remainder will be changed in 2008.
  • Every IKEA Belfast co-worker has received 6 energy saving light bulbs for life.  We also dispose of any old light bulbs.
  • IKEA Belfast has exceeded its recycling target of 90% and includes the following waste streams - cardboard, mixed wood, paper, plastic, banding, metal, glass, ceramics, light bulbs, batteries, plant residue, toner cartridges,  food waste and restaurant oil.
  • In July 2007 IKEA UK became ‘carrier neutral’ and completely removed plastic bags.  Customers at IKEA Belfast can purchase the blue ‘bag for life’ and ‘baby blue’ at the checkouts.
  • IKEA Belfast offers recycling facilities for customers in store.