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Article
Interview with Lisa Davis
- Sustainability US Manager at IKEA
The story of IKEA began in 1943 when Ingvar Kamprad established a small business selling pens, picture frames
and other consumer products at reduced prices. Within a few years, the company started focusing on selling
furniture and since then, IKEA has grown into a global company. Today IKEA has 340 stores represented in
28 different countries. The business idea is to create a better everyday life for people and making home a
better place. The company has always had a strong tradition of conducting business in a sustainable manner.
SACC-Philadelphia’s interns had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Davis, Sustainability Manager at IKEA North
America. Ms. Davis provided the following interesting insights on IKEA’s sustainability programs and other
ongoing initiatives.
Hi Lisa, thank you for taking the time to participate in this interview. Please tell us a little about yourself and
your role within IKEA.
I am the retail Sustainability Manager for IKEA US. I have been with IKEA for 26 years, 10 years specifically
working with sustainability. I am responsible for programs and initiatives related to helping people live more
sustainably, circular economy, sustainable transportation of customers and co-workers, instore sustainability
communication, sustainable stores, and sustainability training.
How would you describe working at a large Swedish company? Do you believe IKEA puts more resources into
sustainability and development than other companies?
At IKEA, we collaborate with a number of large retailers, and we frequently compare our work to others.
We are committed to having a positive impact on people and the planet, which includes being a good
company and operating in a sustainable way. We have accomplished a lot globally and in the US, but, there
is still a lot of work to do.
Would you say that customers, in general, demand and expect you to take more responsibility nowadays
compared to before?
Awareness of sustainability continues to grow with customers. More often, they recognize the need to take
action to reduce their impact as individuals as well as our impact as a business. There is an expectation that
businesses operate in a sustainable way and have a positive impact on the communities where we are
located.
During 2016 the Swedish Government submitted a legislative proposal that it should be mandatory to issue
sustainability reporting for some large companies in Sweden. The proposal passed and since January 2017 it
is now mandatory for many large companies to prepare a sustainability report.
IKEA has produced an annual sustainability report for many years now, and we will continue to do so. It is
important as we set aggressive targets and that we communicate our progress against those targets externally.
Has the recent legislation regarding sustainability reporting affected your work here in the U.S.? Have you seen
an increased focus on sustainability within IKEA this past year?
There has not been any significant change to our work since we have been reporting on our progress for
years. We always aim to be transparent with our work and our progress. We will continue to revisit our goals,
set aggressive targets, and report on our progress, regardless of changes in regulations around the world.
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