Sustainability in sight as Ikea plans to rent out furniture

Need a new kitchen but can’t afford one? In the future, you may be able to rent one from Ikea.

The global furniture manufacturer says it plans to offer a leasing alternative for commercial customers in Switzerland, starting with desks and chairs.

Ikea says the move is a test that could see the company renting out more furniture in the future, including kitchens.

And it’s all part of Ikea’s move towards a circular economy, where sustainability is key. Furniture that can be refurbished, recycled or resold contributes towards a desired “longer life” for Ikea products.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Inter Ikea chief executive Torbjorn said that while the commercial furniture leasing is a trial, the company hasn’t ruled out leasing, rather than selling kitchens as well.

“You could say leasing is another way of financing a kitchen.”

“When this circular model is up and running, we have a much bigger interest in not just selling a product but seeing what happens with it and that the consumer takes care of it.”

The company will also establish a spare parts division, so components, such as hinges and screws can be bought to repair furniture no longer in stock.

Ikea currently owns 250,000 acres (101,171ha) of forests in European countries, including Romania and the Baltic States, and last year purchased a 25,000 (10,117ha) forest in Alabama, US.

The company is also investing heavily in renewable energy, and aims to abandon the use of fossil fuels by 2030.

• This story originally appeared on stuff.co.nz