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IKEA: "the least sustainable retailer on the planet"
The Atlantic's Ellen Ruppel Shell discusses the environmental cost of delivering great design at a low price.
The Atlantic's Ellen Ruppel Shell discusses the environmental cost of delivering great design at a low price.
9 Comments
(As much as I am stranded between my love for Ikea's design and my absolute loathe for Ikea's customer service,) I want to see actual proofs from the claims made by these articles. The only issue that is of Ikea's concern is its probable use of illegally harvested timber - without actual proof.
The problem that people throw away furniture because it is cheap has nothing to do with Ikea. It has more to do with public education that we should conserve not waste. With proper care, even a fiberboard shelf can last a long time, despite what the article suggests, just like the BILLYs sitting at my home for 15 years.
The same can be argued for furniture that is designed to last too long. We would end up wasting all the energy protecting a design that is not meant to last forever. I see expensive furniture destroyed, too, despite they are meant to last. It really depends on what hands these furniture end up on.
On the issue of commuting to Ikea, the same can also be said to all suburban retailers. Does anyone not commute to a store in a suburb anyway? This, again, will have to do more with urban planning than Ikea. In a city, you can travel to Ikea on subways or bus (or even ferries), so I don't see a point here either.
This article is nothing more than a hollow propaganda stapled by an environmentalist trying to get some attention by trolling around.
Another issue that wasn't brought up in the article is the emerging popularity of hacking old Ikea products.
not much of an article--it's only three paragraphs long!
author also wrote a book on the subject. there's a book review on salon, much better read than the short article.
http://www.salon.com/books/review/2009/07/12/cheap/
Actually, my girlfriend, a recent graduate from architecture, and I were discussing the very sustainability of Ikea two weekends ago on a hike. My argument is that Ikea, though "cool, sleek, modern", is not sustainable at all.
The nearest Ikea store in in Phoenix, AZ, and we live in Tucson, and her mother and she travel to and from Ikea about once every quarter year. I expressed that their travel is creating a large "carbon footprint", or just wasting gas, and that is potentially a waste of time because they do not always make purchases.
One concern of sustainability is that the manufacturing, creating, and purchasing is completed within someone’s home town or state; not just going "Green", and I don't believe that is stops at architecture (building). By selectively contributing the one's home town or state; creativity and funds flow within that state, thus creating jobs, larger industry of fabrication and creativity, and greater employment structures.
What would have the greater value: paying $200.00 for a contemporary shelving unit or $400.00 for local furnish trade to fabricate the contemporary shelves. Then knowing that the tradesman would have your $400.00 to eat, feed, grow in his/her trade, and turn around and make purchases within their home town. Moreover, if the desired item cost double, one would take the time to save, think, process; "Do I really need this? Is this what I really want?”
One of her arguments was that some people can not afford local create/made items. Yes, this is a concern, and I had to partially agree. However, I grew up poor, and I know how to sit on a couch, handed from family to family, or bought from Salvation Army. I say to the people who can’t afford the instant gratification of purchasing "cool" stuff: Too BAD!
Where is the money that would go to the local fabricator or into your local business? The money spent goes into an outsourced creator/fabricator that cares nothing for your home, town, city, community. They are only interested in creating "cool" stuff for Americans to snatch up, spend their hard work/earned money, and then not give two sh!ts if the product breaks.
Also, we, as Americans are too accustomed to buying cheaply, furnishing our homes without care, and furnishing the voids with stuff just to feel better, or fit in with the “cool” kids.
:Norman Foster (England) won a competition for a USA/GSA product funded by American Stimulus package. This is not sustainable!
cars are actually a relatively efficient mode of transporation when traveling a certain distance; they become inefficient and not 'green' (btw, HATE that term) when used in cities or for traveling short areas (i.e. hopping into your hummer to buy a toothbrush a half-mile way because of poor suburban planning).
and anyway, useless finger-pointing doesn't help the problem and misses the-forest-for-the-trees. compare IKEA with other companies and rate them on various categories and you will probably find they provide a lot of benefits.
becoming a more concious society has more to do with rethinking the way we interact, behave and grow, rather then trying to cut corners to make everything 'green'; we could be sacrificing other areas of advancement.
I hate the term "Green" as well. Why not "Burgundy"? Your 3rd paragraph: Yes. I thought I was trying to get at that. Oh well.
Ikea furniture remains attractive because it is "disposable" and has a short life span. Contemporary jobs will not last a lifetime. I have moved many times while my parents and grandparents have not. In a global economy we are becoming nomadic, Ikea is part of this global trend and caters to this trend.
There is a simple answer to this: LIVE SIMPLE, be creative and go to the best neighborhoods on trash days. It is amazing what one can find. Also, own a car that has a hatchback, or is a wagon.
i've been able to reuse many of my ikea pieces; i've moved three times with the same bookshelf (metal) which was actually from a friend of mine who was using it for a year before me. a nice wooden stool, lamps, filing cabinet, supply drawers, rugs etc.
you can buy stuff from there that you know is going to last, depending upon the material, strenghth, finish, etc. there are some gems.
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