IKEA Components will replace plastic fitting bags with paper-based alternatives during FY25, reducing virgin plastic use by 1,400 tons annually.
The initiative supports IKEA’s broader Plastics Out Agenda to phase out plastic consumer packaging by 2028.
Paper bags are produced in-house using recycled wood waste and will remain recyclable despite a thin plastic coating.
IKEA Components has begun a major sustainability shift by phasing out plastic fitting bags and replacing them with paper-based alternatives—cutting approximately 1,400 tons of virgin plastic annually. The initiative is part of IKEA’s Plastics Out Agenda, which aims to eliminate all plastic in consumer packaging by 2028.
“This is a significant step in our journey to reduce plastic usage and shift to more renewable materials,” said Lukas Exner, Production & Distribution Manager at IKEA Components. “We spent several years testing different material solutions before settling on this paper-based bag. It clearly shows how even the smallest change can generate great results.”
The paper-based fitting bags—used to package screws, bolts, and Allen keys—are produced in IKEA Components’ factories in Malacky, Slovakia and Nantong, China, using paper made from production waste and wood residue sourced from external sub-suppliers. While the bags include a thin plastic coating to ensure durability, they remain recyclable. IKEA is actively researching renewable alternatives to replace this final plastic layer.
Implementation began in FY25, starting with new product launches such as the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection, and selected items from the running range including PAX and KALLAX. The rollout will continue across more product lines until full adoption is achieved by 2028.
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“This shift will reduce our virgin plastic consumption by up to 1,400 tons annually,” Exner added. “The bags are produced in-house using paper made from production waste, allowing us to continue working on phasing out the remaining plastic content.”
According to Maja Kjellberg, Packaging Development Leader, the packaging redesign represents a broader mindset at IKEA. “By rethinking every detail of our flatpacks, we’re moving closer to our 2028 goal of eliminating virgin plastic and shifting to packaging made from renewable and recycled materials,” she said. “Paper is widely recycled worldwide, and switching to paper cuts plastic waste while inspiring us to rethink every packaging component to support our transition.”
This step reinforces IKEA’s continued commitment to circular materials and carbon reduction across its global supply chain—advancing its goal to use only renewable or recyclable materials in all products and packaging.
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