Since 2020, IKEA has rolled out “Light Recycling Points” in >80% of its EU stores.
Partnered with Recipo and LightRec (European lighting recycling consortia).
In Malmö, Sweden, IKEA tested a smart kiosk that displayed real-time CO₂ savings from bulb recycling on a screen.
All collected bulbs are sent to certified recyclers like Boliden (for metal recovery) or Veolia.
📈 Why This Matters
- CFLs contain 3–5 mg of mercury—recycling prevents soil/water contamination.
- LEDs contain rare earth metals (e.g., gallium, indium)—recycling reduces mining demand.
- The EU aims to recycle 85% of e-waste by 2025—retail take-back is critical.
By embedding recycling into the shopping journey, IKEA turn a regulatory obligation into a visible sustainability statement—making it as easy to return a bulb as it is to buy one.
The Future: Toward Full Automation?
Pilot projects are exploring:
- Barcode scanning of bulb packaging to auto-sort
- In-store credit (e.g., €0.30 off next LED pack)
- Integration with circular economy apps (e.g., scan bulb, get recycling proof for ESG reporting)
For now, the semi-automated kiosk remains the practical, safe, and scalable solution—proving that even small acts of recycling can be engineered with care, one light bulb at a time. 💡♻️
