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IKEA promises zero-emissions delivery in five cities by 2020

Receive your plywood furniture with a clear conscience.

SweetBabeeJay via Getty Images
SweetBabeeJay via Getty Images
Jon Fingas
Jon Fingas|@jonfingas|September 16, 2018 6:06 AM

IKEA doesn't just want to take the pain out of assembling furniture... it wants to eliminate the environmental impact of receiving that furniture. The company recently pledged to offer emissions-free home delivery in five major inner cities (Amsterdam, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris and Shanghai) by 2020. Order an EKTORP sofa and an electric vehicle or a similarly Earth-friendly machine will roll up to your door. IKEA had already hoped to transition to zero-emissions delivery, but it's picking up the pace to set a "strong example" for urban transport.

The Swedish retailer hopes that 25 percent of its overall deliveries will rely on emissions-free vehicles that same year, and wants completely clean deliveries by 2025.

IKEA is no stranger to green initiatives. It ditched non-LED lighting years ago, for instance. Such a rapid shift to zero-emissions delivery is uncommon, though, and reflects the brand's determination to expand in a "sustainable way," as company chief Jesper Brodin put it. Of course, it also helps polish the company's public image -- it looks good to deliver plywood bookshelves without hurting the planet any more than necessary.

IKEA promises zero-emissions delivery in five cities by 2020