• Transforming Waste into Resources: Ingka Group’s €1 billion investment will bolster global recycling infrastructure to enhance the availability of recycled materials.
• Reducing Carbon Emissions: Circular Investments has avoided 9.4 million tonnes of CO2e since 2017 by recycling 2.7 million tonnes of materials.
• Scaling Innovations: Investments include companies revolutionizing mattress recycling, plastic reuse, and organic waste treatment.

Ingka Group’s Ambitious Recycling Investment

Ingka Investments, the financial arm of Ingka Group and the largest IKEA retailer, plans to invest €1 billion in recycling infrastructure. This initiative aims to combat the global resource crisis, where 75% more natural resources are consumed annually than the Earth can regenerate, and less than 20% of waste is recycled.

Peter van der Poel, Managing Director of Ingka Investments, emphasized the strategic importance of these investments:

“Our €1 billion ambition to invest in growing recycling infrastructure is crucial to Ingka Group’s broader sustainability strategy to go beyond our own operations. Through investments, we are committed to ensuring that valuable materials are recycled and reused in the production of new products.”

Circular Investments: Impact and Innovations

Established in 2017, Ingka’s Circular Investments focuses on plastics, mattresses, textiles, wood, and food waste. Its portfolio has already driven measurable impact:

• RetourMatras: This mattress recycling leader transforms end-of-life mattresses into valuable materials, including repoliol, a circular alternative used in IKEA products. Its facilities across the Netherlands, England, and France process up to 2.5 million mattresses annually.
• Morssinkhof Rymoplast: A pioneer in post-consumer plastic recycling, this company has doubled its capacity to 515,000 tonnes per year, operating 11 facilities across Europe with plans for further expansion.
• Next Generation Group: This group delivers cutting-edge recycling solutions for plastics and organic waste, combining economic and ecological efficiency.

Related Article: Ingka Group Buys Stake in $1.4 Billion Australian Wind Farm

Lukas Visser, Circular Investments Portfolio Manager, highlighted the vision:

“To future-proof our business, we want to invest in financially and environmentally resilient companies. For us, that means investing in technology and capacity that prevent waste and supply recycled materials.“

A Call for Stronger Policies

Ingka emphasizes the need for robust policies to amplify recycling efforts. Van der Poel advocated for legislative support:

“Stronger legislation prioritizing recycling over incineration and landfilling would help us go further. Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and eco-design regulations can encourage higher recycling rates and demand for recycled materials.”

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