IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, is getting set to implement a radical change in the delivery operations in the country of India. The Swedish giant is planning to electrify its all 100% deliveries from 2025 in the country, further pressing its stride towards sustainability, claiming zero-emission logistics. As per this strategy, IKEA aims at reducing the overall carbon footprint and contributing towards the global battle with climate change.
Current Progress
Since its entry into the Indian market in 2018, IKEA has been gradually adopting sustainable practices, particularly within its delivery operations. It introduced electric vehicles in its last-mile delivery fleet in 2019 and currently engages EVs in 88 percent of IKEA deliveries across India. Of note, IKEA has already realized 100 percent zero-emission deliveries in key cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune.
Expanding Plans
It will add 40 percent more EVs to the current fleet to help meet its 2025 target. This expansion becomes paramount when the company is preparing for its launch of operations in Delhi-NCR, where all of its deliveries are made only through electric vehicles right from the beginning. This strategy is not just about increasing the number of EVs but also ensuring the delivery infrastructure is robust and scalable.
Sourcing tie-ups with Automobile makers
For execution of such ambitious plans of expansion, IKEA has tied up with the leading automotive manufacturers like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and EKA. These partnerships have formed the backbone of building an EV delivery fleet that will be reliable and efficient. Collaboration with industry leaders puts IKEA’s fleet at par with the most advanced EV technology, ensuring endurance and scale across operations in the country.
Fueling Nationwide Industrial Transition
Apart from increasing its in-house fleet, IKEA is working to accelerate the transition to EVs in India’s logistics industry. The company is working to link its last-mile delivery partners with original equipment manufacturers. This collaboration is aimed at achieving smooth transitioning to one hundred percent EV deliveries in all the markets where IKEA operates.
Pilot of Same-Day Delivery in Hyderabad
Besides this, in Hyderabad, IKEA is also testing a same-day delivery service. This will be implemented in other markets by the company next year as it targets efficient and sustainable delivery to its customers. This would enhance the integration of same-day delivery with its zero-emission fleet to ensure higher customer satisfaction while minimizing impacts on the environment.
Sustainability Promise
This transition does not mean much as an end in itself for IKEA, given the very ambitious global goals it has set for itself. This would involve committing initiation toward becoming climate positive—in other simple words, reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 50% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The electrification of its delivery operations in India, therefore, means a huge headway toward the realization of this road.
As IKEA scales its operations in India, there is a focus on sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions—something very meaningful for retail. Looking forward to having the entire fleet for delivery all-electric by 2025, it is not just meeting its sustainability goals but also the industry’s changing trends toward sustainable logistics.
Source:
This news story is based on information released by IKEA India regarding its sustainability and delivery operations.
Credits:
The content is credited to IKEA India’s official announcements and sustainability reports.