IKEA’s parent company, Ingka Group, has revised its climate target for home deliveries, shifting its original goal of 100% zero-emission deliveries by 2025 to a new target of more than 90% by 2028. The company cited multiple challenges, including the rapid growth of online orders, insufficient charging infrastructure, and the limited availability of suitable electric vehicles. While the new target extends the timeline, Ingka Group emphasized its ongoing commitment to reducing emissions from its delivery operations, which account for a significant portion of its mobility-related carbon footprint.
Ingka Group has been working toward sustainable logistics for several years, setting ambitious goals to transition to emission-free deliveries. In 2023, only 25% of its home deliveries were made using zero-emission vehicles, but by 2024, this figure had risen to over 41%. Additionally, the company has already achieved 100% zero-emission deliveries in 20 cities. Despite these advancements, global challenges in electric vehicle adoption have led to the adjustment of its targets.
What factors influenced the revised target?
The company pointed to several obstacles influencing its decision, including inadequate charging infrastructure, inconsistent local regulations, and limitations in the range of available freight electric vehicles. These challenges vary across different markets, making a 100% transition difficult in some regions. Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka Group, highlighted these concerns while explaining the modified target.
“These challenges are the reasons why we have now stated 90% and not 100%. We believe we can state more than 90% with confidence that many of our markets will exceed this target, but we also recognise some challenges may remain in some countries.”
How does the company plan to meet its new goal?
Ingka Group outlined several strategies in its Net Zero Transition Plan to reach the revised target. These include collaborating with truck manufacturers to expand electric vehicle offerings, supporting third-party delivery partners in adopting sustainable transport, and optimizing delivery routes to reduce emissions. Additionally, the company plans to bring more deliveries in-house using its own fleet of zero-emission vehicles. Other measures involve advocating for stronger policies to promote electric vehicle adoption and alternative fuels.
To address local variations in infrastructure and policy, Ingka Group has appointed dedicated project managers in each of its retail markets. These managers will work on country-specific challenges and coordinate efforts to accelerate the transition. The company is also pushing for regulatory measures such as setting phase-out deadlines for internal combustion engine vehicles, increasing investments in charging stations, and supporting research into sustainable transportation technologies.
Despite extending its original timeline, Ingka Group maintains that emission-free deliveries remain a core priority. Pflug reaffirmed the company’s stance on sustainable logistics.
“We still believe that zero emission deliveries are the future of retail. As we look ahead and work with our new targets, through continued investment, innovation and collaboration we remain strongly committed to our customers that their home deliveries will be made by zero emission vehicles.”
Adjusting sustainability goals in response to industry-wide challenges is becoming increasingly common among companies with ambitious climate targets. The electric vehicle sector continues to face hurdles, including supply chain disruptions and infrastructure gaps, which have affected businesses aiming for rapid adoption. While some companies have maintained aggressive targets, others, like Ingka Group, are recalibrating their expectations based on real-world limitations.
As demand for sustainable logistics grows, companies investing in green delivery options must navigate regulatory differences, technological advancements, and infrastructure development. The transition to emission-free deliveries depends on multiple stakeholders, including policymakers, manufacturers, and logistics providers. Ingka Group’s revised target reflects the complexities of large-scale electrification efforts while maintaining a strong focus on emissions reduction. The success of such initiatives will largely depend on further advancements in electric vehicle technology and increased investment in supporting infrastructure.
