This undated file photo provided by IKEA shows its outlet in Goyang, just north of Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Swedish furniture giant IKEA held a briefing session in Seoul on Monday to expand its network of eco-friendly and recycled product suppliers from South Korea, according to the country’s state-run trade promotion agency.
IKEA’s Northeast Asia purchasing office hosted the 2025 IKEA Day event at the headquarters of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in southern Seoul, providing information on its purchasing policies and holding export consultations with Korean companies producing renewable and recycled materials.
Five IKEA supply chain managers visited Seoul for the two-day event, which will include site visits to local factories scheduled for Tuesday.
Founded in Sweden in 1943, IKEA operates more than 473 stores across 63 countries. As of 2024, its global sales had reached 45.1 billion euros (US$50.7 billion), with a workforce of approximately 220,000 employees.
Sustainability is a core value in IKEA’s supply chain management. Since 2020, the company has banned single-use plastics in its stores and restaurants worldwide, and aims to use only renewable or recycled materials in all products by 2030.
KOTRA, which co-hosted the event, also offered one-on-one consulting on tariff-related issues to help Korean suppliers prepare for potential trade barriers when exporting to IKEA’s global stores.
The agency said the event served as a one-stop support platform to facilitate the entry of Korean eco-friendly and recycling businesses into IKEA’s global supply chain.
(Yonhap)
