Could IKEA's DIY Deliveries Help the Company Decarbonise?
IKEA is rolling out new delivery options aimed at urban shoppers without cars, offering low-cost, sustainable alternatives to home delivery.
With retail operations spanning 31 markets, Ingka Group — the primary IKEA retailer responsible for around 90% of IKEA's global retail sales — is exploring innovative supply chain solutions designed to reduce costs while advancing its sustainability objectives.
Ingka Group, which operates IKEA stores under a franchise agreement from Inter IKEA Systems BV, manages three core businesses: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Together, they are steering the IKEA brand towards evolving its delivery mechanisms to better align with customer demands in an ever-changing urban environment.
Urban residents are central to this initiative. In many large cities, car ownership is either impractical or too costly, and public transport options are not always suitable for transporting bulky flat-packs.
Alastair Morgan, Global Core Services Manager at Ingka Group, explains: "Not everyone has access to a car in urban locations and public transport isn't always ideal for large items.
"IKEA aims to serve the many, but traditional home delivery isn’t always suitable."
This is where the new "DIY delivery" concept comes into play. It's a collaborative approach — part IKEA, part customer — offering more affordable and adaptable take-home options.
The essence of this model lies in reducing reliance on conventional delivery systems while providing a low-emissions alternative to van transport.
As of April 2025, several stores in Europe are running trials. Customers in IKEA Utrecht (Netherlands), IKEA Westbahnhof Vienna (Austria) and IKEA Gallerian Stockholm (Sweden) can now rent a selection of eco-friendly transport options:
- A trolley for short-distance walking or bus travel
- An electric four-wheel bike fitted with a storage box
- An electric cargo bike
- An electric trailer that can be pulled by hand or attached to a bike
The concept is straightforward: transport a BILLY bookcase or MALM dresser home without needing a car. Prices remain accessible, merging convenience with sustainability.
Lockers offer 24/7 convenience and cut delivery miles
For those residing outside city centres, IKEA is enhancing its locker pick-up model.
Instead of organising home deliveries, customers can now retrieve flat-pack orders from external modular lockers situated in places like grocery store car parks.
These secure lockers are accessible 24/7, allowing customers to pick up items at their convenience, thereby eliminating the need for additional delivery trips.
This project is led by the Development and Innovation Network, a collaborative effort involving Inter IKEA Group and all franchisees, including Ingka.
In partnership with an external company, IKEA has installed lockers in four UK supermarket car parks — with plans for six more sites — as well as locations in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Peter Ac, Head of Supply Chain Innovations at Inter IKEA Group, says the idea is about meeting people where they are: “We are always looking for ways to make shopping more convenient and accessible.
"By testing pick-up lockers in new locations, we’re bringing IKEA closer to where people live, making it easier to collect purchases at a time and place that suits them.”
The model has garnered positive reception. Testing commenced in November 2024, with feedback highlighting the convenience of being able to collect flat-packs and complete weekly shopping in one journey as a major advantage.
Supply chains with sustainability in focus
These delivery updates illustrate how IKEA is transforming its supply chain to simultaneously accommodate consumer habits and environmental goals.
Rather than expanding traditional van-based home deliveries, which add to congestion and emissions, IKEA is experimenting with delivery models that empower customers while minimising environmental impact.
Whether it's renting an electric cargo bike to ride home with a new table or collecting drawers from a locker during a grocery run, the objective is clear: keep solutions simple, adaptable and environmentally friendly.
For IKEA, these trials are part of a broader strategy to develop delivery methods that better fit contemporary lifestyles.
Recognition is already evident. The locker project received the Omnichannel Retailer Initiative of the Year award at the 2024 Retail Tech Innovation Hub Awards, demonstrating that the new approach resonates well.
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