I am all in favour supporting local shops and will do so wherever I can.
When we arrived in Delhi in 2012 obviously there was no Ikea, but there were lots of local shops making furniture.
I will spare you how much time and effort it took to find someone who seemed reliable and knew what he was doing. We asked a lot around, visited various places etc. When the furniture arrived, finally, my wife started to cry, it was that poorly finished. Beautiful materials, but extremely poorly put together.
I am sure you can find a good carpenter/furniture builder. If you have the time and maybe the right contacts.
I am not going to defend Ikea, they are a big company and can do so for themselves. However, I do some things mentioned here that don’t make sense.
Ikea was present in India for more than two decades before they opened their first shop. I know, as the lady who rented our apartment in Delhi before us, was a purchasing officer and worked for India all that time.
Ikea is not a perfect company, but there is a lot of independent research, showing they do pretty good on what is called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
Quote:
IKEA Supporting Local Communities
IKEA Group operates 422 stores in 50 markets around the world.[1] The home improvement and furnishing chain aims to cause positive impact on local communities, where its stores are located.
Packing event organized by all IKEA stores in Sweden involved customers and representatives from Save the Children to prepare more than 37,000 welcome backpacks filled with toys and other products for children
In UK, IKEA has planted one million trees in communities across the country
In Australia, IKEA Perth and IKEA Adelaide employees contribute to the improvement of the environment in which children live and develop.
IKEA Educating and Empowering Workers
Starting from January 2015, IKEA has introduced a new hourly wage structure that concentrates on the needs of its employees, rather than market standards.
The furniture retailer has launched My Learning online system that provides employees at all levels access to face-t-face and digital learning solutions.
The company organized a global Talent Focus Week in April 2016 to provide employees worldwide with an oppor*tunity to have a dialogue around the many ways to grow and develop within IKEA.
IKEA and Gender Equality and Minorities
At Inter IKEA Group function 70% of all employees and 40% of all managers are women
Annually on May 17th the company celebrates IDAHOT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, to stand up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
The Swedish furniture chain is the member of Workplace Pride Foundation and Stonewall, two organisations focused on LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.
Energy Consumption by IKEA
IKEA is expected to become energy-positive by 2020.
Energy consuming products offered by IKEA are on average 50 per cent more efficient compared to 2008.
Energy efficiency of IKEA-owned buildings increased by 15 per cent in FY2015 compared to FY2010
There are about 700,000 solar panels installed in buildings owned by IKEA.
IKEA owns and operates 327 wind turbines around the world and have invested in 730,000 solar panels on its buildings worldwide.[2]
Waste Reduction and Recycling by IKEA
About 60% of all products offered by the furniture retailer are based on renewable materials and 10% of products contain recycled materials.[3]
The retail giant has an ambition to use 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2030
Food is Precious initiative started in 2016 saved 1,400 tonnes of food, equivalent to 3 million meals
Skapro Chair sold by IKEA is made of 100 per cent recycled plastic.
The IKEA catalogue is the largest print production ever to be printed on 100 per cent Forest Stewardship Council certified paper
IKEA and Sustainable Sourcing
All cotton used by IKEA and 85% of wood comes from more sustainable sources
94% of fish and seafood sold by the company is certified to MSC or ASC standards
The company has commit*ted to source the fish and seafood it sells and serves in restaurants and Swedish Food Markets from fisheries and farms certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aqua*culture Stewardship Council (ASC).
IKEA serves more than 100 million cups of coffee every year. The company’s PÅTÅR coffee range is certified by UTZ, as well as, EU Organic
IKEA other CSR Initiatives and Charitable Donations
EUR 7.7 million has been denoted by IKEA foundation to Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign.
76 per cent of cotton used by IKEA is gained from sustainable sources
IKEA enforces Supplier Code of Conduct that prohibits the use of child labour, the use of forced or bonded labour and discrimination at work. The Code of Conduct also requires the freedom of association for employees and the provision of a safe and healthy environment.
IKEA Foundation as an independent charitable body has donated EUR 1 to Save the Children for every soft toy sold in IKEA stores in November and December since 2003.
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Source:
https://research-methodology.net/ike...esponsibility/
Whether you like Ikea furniture is, of course, just a matter of opinion. We have owned and still own, quite a few pieces of furniture. By and large, the quality tends to be very good. Note, that we have been moving around the world endlessly and a lot of Ikea furniture has followed us around the world too, without too much hassle.
I absolutely hate putting Ikea furniture together. I will say this though, it is extremely well made and thought through. When you start at assembly, you need to switch off all autonomous thought and initiatives. Just go through the manual step by step. Don’t think you can do it differently. It is just very tedious, but you will get there in the end.
Ikea does have solid wood furniture as well (at least here in Europe).
Jeroen