Contributing to positive systems change that benefits the many

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV supporting social enterprises* with a vision to create a more inclusive and equal society, to create a positive impact on people’s livelihoods.

Since the start, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV has supported close to 200 social enterprises in 35 countries and more than 370 co-workers have contributed as mentors or coaches in six accelerator programmes. 

The journey began in 2012 when IKEA created business partnerships to develop products together with social entrepreneurs. In 2018, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV was introduced to create a more inclusive and equal society, contributing to the overall IKEA Sustainability agenda. After over five years of supporting social enterprises, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV has built a strong global position.  

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV supports social enterprises by funding and developing accelerator programmes, and through impact investments. In the programmes, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship supports social entrepreneurs who are working with social innovation and are ready to scale their solutions. An important part of the accelerator programmes is the engagement of the IKEA coworkers acting as coaches and mentors, supporting the enterprises but also bringing knowledge back into the business. Last year more than 160 coworkers were engaged in different programmes. 

Today, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV supports social enterprises focusing on three areas: circularity, inclusive employment and renewable materials. Every programme addresses and positively impacts one or all these three areas. As reported in the latest IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Annual Review, the partnerships and programmes benefited more than three million people last year. 

“Today, we support social entrepreneurs in more than 20 countries, creating new opportunities for people from vulnerable communities, while fighting the root causes of poverty and inequality. After several years of working with combining impact investments and social business partnerships, I’m confident that supporting social entrepreneurs and enterprises is an important contribution to solving social and environmental challenges”, says Åsa Skogström Feldt Managing Director, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV.

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV is an independent entity contributing to the IKEA People and Planet sustainability strategy as a facilitator of the fair and equal pillar, which, in addition to healthy and sustainable living and circular and climate positive, is a core focus for IKEA activities.

Åsa Skogström Feldt: “Over the past years, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship has demonstrated that partnerships are a powerful way to innovate business models and drive positive change. We have three core themes: circularity, inclusive employment and renewable materials when working with social enterprises. It is a way for IKEA to both contribute to positive social impact and explore new sustainable solutions.”

“There is a need to continue to support social entrepreneurs and especially working in collaborations together with them. According to a report from the World Economic Forum and the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, social enterprises have already created 200 million jobs globally, and it's growing. We have signed, together with many other corporates, the Rise Ahead Pledge. This pledge means that we are committed to continue partnering with social entrepreneurs around the world and together with them and others, we can create coalitions for a more inclusive world”, says Åsa Skogström Feldt.

*Social entrepreneurs are change makers, whose business ideas focus on creating a better everyday life for vulnerable people.