Ikea has recently reported plans to have a more positive impact on the world’s oceans by proactively engaging in projects that will help to clean plastic waste and prevent future pollution.
The MUSSELBLOMMA collection, which will be released this fall, will use ocean plastic in its products, such as a new polyester fabric made from recycled plastic (including PET plastic waste) caught in the nets of Spanish fishermen in the Mediterranean Sea.
Following collection from the water, plastic waste is combined in containers onshore, cleaned, sorted, and mechanically recycled into yarn and fabric. For every kilogram of PET plastic waste that can be used to make the polyester fabric, another 9 kilograms of additional waste, such as other types of plastics, metal, rubber, and glass, is also taken out of the ocean.
This is an important step in tackling the ever growing concern surrounding plastic waste in our oceans. Ikea is currently exploring different avenues in collaboration with non-profit organizations, partners, and suppliers to scale up this work. Ocean plastic pollution is a huge environmental problem and Ikea is determined to contribute to its solution in a positive and proactive way.
