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IKEA Brings Circular Model Stateside with Pilot of Buy Back & Resell Service

The retailer is piloting the service, which helps customers prolong the life of their furniture, at IKEA Conshohocken for a limited time — with a goal of expanding it to all of its US stores in the future.

Published 3 years ago | About a 2 minute read

Image: IKEA

This week, as part of IKEA’s journey towards becoming a circular business by 2030, IKEA US launched its Buy Back & Resell service, which will be piloted for a limited time at its location in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania — starting Monday, August 30 – September 19, 2021.

The Buy Back & Resell service — which has been alive and well in the UK and Ireland for years — will give IKEA US Family members the opportunity to sell back their gently used IKEA furniture in exchange for IKEA store credit. The furniture will have a chance at a second life through resale in the store's AS-IS section, providing an even more sustainable and affordable option for customers. The Buy Back & Resell service is available for fully assembled and functional IKEA furniture only; and all products will be reviewed based on condition, age, safety and functionality.

“At IKEA, we are passionate about making sustainable living easy and affordable for the many, and want to be part of a future that’s better for both people and the planet,” says Jennifer Keesson, Country Sustainability Manager at IKEA US. “We hope the Buy Back & Resell service inspires our customers to live a more sustainable life at home while giving their used furniture another life and a second home.”

While this service will be a pilot program at IKEA Conshohocken, IKEA US plans to roll out this service to additional select markets across the US, with the ultimate goal of making Buy Back & Resell a permanent service at all IKEA US stores in the future.

Circularity by Design: How to Influence Sustainable Consumer Behaviors

Join us Thursday, December 5, at 1pm ET for a free webinar on making circular behaviors the easy choice! Nudge & behavioral design expert Sille Krukow will explore the power of Consumer Behavior Design to drive circular decision-making and encourage behaviors including recycling and using take-back services. She will share key insights on consumer psychology, behavior design related to in-store and on-pack experiences, and how small changes in the environment can help make it easy for consumers to choose circularity.

Tell me more!

From furnishings to food, home delivery to assembly, and product design to investments, IKEA is transforming its business model to be circular and climate positive by 2030. The Buy Back & Resell service is just one way that IKEA is introducing long-term solutions to customers for more sustainable furniture. Among other initiatives, IKEA remains committed to designing all products to be 100 percent circular from the beginning, aims to use only renewable or recycled materials by adapting and finding new sources or developing new materials, and is on a journey to find circular solutions for existing and new customers to acquire, care for and pass on IKEA products.

Learn more about the service and assessment process at IKEA-USA.com/buyback.