IKEA Will Eliminate Dairy Products from Menus by 2030 As It Goes All In On Sustainability

IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant, says it will eliminate dairy products from its cafe menus by 2030 as part of the company’s sustainability goals, which include becoming climate-positive by 2030.

In its 2022 Sustainability Report FY22, which was just published, the retailer states on page 13: “We continue to explore where and how we can remove or replace dairy in our range (without compromising on taste) to further reduce the climate impact of our food ingredients.”

According to IKEA, it serves more than 650 million customers each year across its restaurants, cafes, and bistros.

Ditching dairy to be ‘people and planet positive’

The company’s new sustainability plan, called “People and Planet Positive,” is targeting carbon emissions and resource reductions across IKEA’s operations, including a focus on more plant-based food in its restaurants.

Late last year, IKEA announced a sustainable food hall concept that offers a range of sustainable and healthy food options including salads, smoothies, and plant-based dishes with ingredients sourced locally and organically whenever possible.

The food hall will also focus on reducing food waste. The company has already implemented several strategies to reduce its food waste across its cafes and restaurants, including using “imperfect” produce as well as donating excess food to local charities. In 2021 it produced a food waste cookbook.

Sustainable food at IKEA

The food hall and dairy-free commitments build on IKEA’s sustainable food catalogue; it currently offers plant-based versions of its Swedish meatballs, hot dogs, and other cafe staples including ice cream.

According to the United Nations, animal agriculture is responsible for roughly 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. A survey conducted by GlobalData revealed that 23 per cent of global consumers are reducing their animal product consumption, with 70 per cent pointing to the health and environmental benefits.

Another recent survey found that young people in particular are “ashamed” to order dairy in public — opting instead for sustainable alternatives such as oat or almond milk. Coffee chains including Blue Bottle and Stumptown are now defaulting to oat milk instead of conventional dairy.

IKEA says it has been actively working to improve animal welfare across its supply chain. The company has committed to sourcing all of its animal products from farms that meet higher welfare standards by 2025.