Summary:
IKEA Canada has announced the expansion of its electric vehicle (EV) charging network, with the addition of 25 charging stations at five locations in Quebec and Ontario. The move comes after the home furnishing retailer secured funding of $300,000 from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) in 2022.
The funding enabled the installation of the charging stations at several locations including the Montreal, Boucherville, Quebec City, and Ottawa stores, as well as the Distribution Centre in Beauharnois, Quebec.
IKEA’s investment of over $305,000 also helped install the charging stations, supporting the company’s goal of achieving 100% zero-emission home deliveries by 2025 and reducing co-worker and customer emissions by 50% by 2030.
“IKEA’s ambition is to not only move our business forward but also to inspire and drive change for our communities and society,” says Crystal Rasa, Head of Fulfilment Sourcing, IKEA Canada, in a statement. “Through the ZEVIP program, we were able to accelerate our investment in the long-term future of our business, our fulfillment network, and our partnerships with transport service providers that use zero-emission delivery vehicles.”
The installation of four commercial EV charging stations at the IKEA Ottawa store marked a significant milestone in the retailer’s efforts to reduce its climate footprint. With these charging stations, GoBolt, the last-mile delivery partner, was able to begin using two EV delivery trucks for home deliveries in Ottawa.
In a similar move, IKEA and another last-mile delivery partner, Metro Supply Chain, installed a mobile EV charging center at the IKEA Coquitlam, BC store in the fall of 2022, enabling the operation of three EV delivery trucks in the region.
The expansion of the charging network also demonstrates IKEA’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact in Canada and becoming a circular and climate-positive business. The company has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. for the 15th consecutive year.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, praised IKEA’s efforts, saying that investing in more EV chargers, like the ones announced in Quebec and Ontario, will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve the country’s climate goals.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and that we are big enough to make a difference,” says Helene Loberg, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Canada. “While we integrate sustainability into our everyday, we want to show Canadians that living a sustainable life can be affordable – and easy.”
