IKEA Appoints New Sustainability Chief as Climate Strategy Enters a New Phase

IKEA Appoints Lena Julle as Global Chief Sustainability Officer Amid Strategic Climate Transition

On April 30, IKEA, the world’s largest home furnishing retailer, officially appointed Lena Julle as its Global Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). Julle will oversee the company’s climate actions, circular economy initiatives, and green product strategies. According to the company’s announcement, Julle has "played a key role" in advancing IKEA’s climate and sustainability agenda and will now lead the company’s core transition toward net-zero emissions.

From Supply Chain to Climate Strategy: Internal Experience Positions Julle for Leadership

Lena Julle brings a decade of internal leadership experience within IKEA. From 2014 to 2021, she headed the supply chain operations of IKEA’s textile division, covering strategic planning and execution in areas such as sustainability, logistics, product communication, and quality assurance. In 2021, she became Sustainability Manager at IKEA Sweden, where she actively drove regional climate action and circular material strategies. She had been serving as interim Global CSO since late 2023.

“Lena combines deep IKEA experience with a pragmatic sustainability perspective, laying a solid foundation for our transition to net zero and full circularity. Under her leadership, our sustainability commitments will increasingly translate into visible, verifiable actions,” said Jon Abrahamsson Ring, CEO of Inter IKEA Group.

Sustainability Strategy Recalibrated: Zero-Emission Delivery Target Pushed to 2028

Despite its clear climate ambitions, IKEA has recently adjusted some of its targets in light of operational challenges. In February 2024, the company announced a revision of its previous goal to achieve 100% zero-emission last-mile home deliveries by 2025. The new target is to reach 90% zero-emission vehicles by 2028 for both customer deliveries and internal company transport.

This shift reflects several global challenges, including the surge in e-commerce demand, increased complexity in urban logistics, and persistent obstacles in the electric vehicle (EV) market - particularly regarding infrastructure and availability. In key markets such as Europe and North America, limitations in charging infrastructure, vehicle model options, and cost structures continue to hinder full deployment.

“We remain committed to our net-zero vision, but recognize the need for flexibility and pragmatic adaptation in today’s environment,” IKEA stated in its announcement.

Circular Economy and Climate-Friendly Products to Drive Future Strategy

Beyond transportation emissions, Julle’s leadership will also focus on managing climate impacts across product design and the global supply chain. IKEA has committed to cutting its total carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and achieving full net-zero emissions by 2050. This will require increased use of renewable and recycled materials, expanding right-to-repair product designs, and broadening access to recycling and refurbishment services.

Currently, over 60% of IKEA’s raw materials come from renewable or recycled sources. The company aims to use 100% such materials by 2030. On the supply chain side, IKEA is partnering with hundreds of global suppliers to adopt Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for emissions reduction and is building robust carbon accounting and environmental disclosure systems.

In product innovation, IKEA has introduced sustainable wood furniture, bioplastic items, and modular, circular-focused appliances and lighting solutions. The company also plans to scale up furniture leasing models and second-life product zones to help consumers participate more actively in the circular economy.

Sustainability Leadership at a Critical Juncture: Internal Transformation Pressure Persists

The appointment of Julle as official CSO signals IKEA’s commitment to embedding sustainability at the highest levels of its governance. This comes at a pivotal time, as international regulations - including the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and global sustainability disclosure standards (ISSB) - begin to take hold.

Julle will also face mounting pressures within the organization and across the supply chain. As IKEA expands in Asian markets, including building new sourcing bases in India and Vietnam, she will be tasked with ensuring emissions intensity continues to fall while establishing responsible sourcing practices and fair labor systems in these emerging markets.