ESG
its prime real estate - and is working to implement zero-emission deliveries by 2025 for all home deliveries .
“ Beyond that , switching energy to being clean is one thing , but it ' s also about being much smarter and saving energy , too ,” Pflug explains .
“ So , we ' ve got action plans on an annual basis for all of our buildings , investing € 54mn in energy saving projects , switching to LED lighting , upgrading the management systems , and improving insulation .”
The Skills for Employees integration initiative In terms of its wider sociological impact , the Refugees Skills for Employment initiative represents one of the group ’ s most significant impacts .
The aim of the initiative is for 2,500 refugees to be supported by the end of 2023 , helping them to gain the skills needed for employment - either inside or outside of its business . This includes between 3-6 months of training , followed by an invitation to apply for vacancies .
“ It could be on the customer fulfilment side , or it could be in the stores working on the interior design , or it could be serving customers - it spans a wide range of areas . And then afterwards , they either get a fulltime , permanent job with us , or we also work together with other retailers and other businesses , to partner . We ' re actually looking to extend that and partner more with other businesses as well ,” Pflug explains .
“ The advocacy part of all of our work is something we take very seriously . And this has been a fantastic initiative . We have been closely working and partnering with UNHCR and we have a separate arm - the IKEA Foundation - that works very closely with refugees as well .”
“ What we wanted to do within the Ingka Group is really take the approach of helping displaced people get their dignity back , and the right to work is key here , in terms of helping people feel dignity again , through a sense of purpose .”
“ That ’ s our aim - to be fully circular by 2030 ”
KAREN PFLUG CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER , INGKA GROUP