IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin believes a sustainable future is also a good thing – the state of the planet

According to Time magazine, one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024, Jesper Brodin has been working at IKEA for the past three decades, including as CEO for the past eight years. Brodin is a training engineer who promotes the tendency to solve problems and build solutions for the work of global leaders and climate advocates.

In addition to serving as the helm of the international company, Brodin is also a member of the board of directors of the World Resources Institute, Chairman of Team B, Vice Chairman of the United Nations Global Compact, and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Coalition, CEO, Climate Leaders.

On Tuesday, March 11, Broding Futures Columbia Climate School, a speech series for the signature speaker, “Being a good business is a good business.” The state of the Earth talks with Broding before talking about his career path, the lessons he learned and why he wanted to help transition to a climate-smart future.

Can you talk about your academic background and career? How did you become the president and CEO of IKEA?

I was born and raised in the city of Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden and is known for its intimacy with the ocean and vibrant culture. I have a Master of Industrial Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, which is also located in the city where I grew up. My trip to IKEA started with a purchasing manager in Pakistan in 1995 and it has been an incredible learning experience ever since. I have taken on various roles – from regional purchasing managers in Southeast Asia to assistants to IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and former CEO Anders Dahlvig. Before taking office as CEO in 2017, I led Ikea in Sweden/Range & Supply, overseeing product development and supply chains. Each character taught me something valuable about leadership and the ability to bring people together.

How do you combine your work as a climate advocate with your work as a global business leader? What are the biggest challenges and opportunities?

For me, purpose and profit go hand in hand – it’s not a/or situation. Doing a good business is just a good business. Since 2016, our climate footprint has lowered our climate footprint by 30.1%, while growing our business by 23.7%. The biggest challenge is speed – we need to accelerate change in the most important climate action. Opportunities lie in innovation and collaboration; when we bring together different perspectives and abilities, we can create solutions that benefit people and the planet.

Can you discuss any projects or initiatives that you are particularly proud of?

My proudest moments include the realization of reducing carbon while growing your business. This is huge for us and I am very proud of it. Furthermore, as people’s wallets became thinner, we decided to invest 2.1 billion euros to lower the price of thousands of products, which also demonstrates us as people of companies and brands. These achievements and more show that we can have a positive impact while growing our business.

You have set a company’s climate goal to reduce emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. What does this mean and how do you plan to achieve this?

We plan to reduce our carbon footprint by 50% between 2030 and by 2050, we will be the latest to reduce our carbon footprint. We have come a long way during this journey and I believe we have a great plan to go on the final mileage. Recently, we launched the transition program where we shared details of our achievements so far, as well as our journey. You can find it here.

Do you want to see more types of climate and sustainability efforts from companies around the world in the future?

We need to see more bold ambitions, collaboration and action in the public and private sectors. Recently, the World Economic Forum released a report that shows that the cost of doing nothing far exceeds the cost of active investment. The industry can reduce 10-60% of its emissions at any or limited additional cost. Only when we work together can we change the process of climate change.

Would you tell someone to start in the field of climate and sustainability? Have you received any memorable suggestions?

I have a lot of heroes in this field. Of course, one is our founder, Ingvar Kamprad, who [paved the way] Suitable for our flat bags at IKEA, the materials are innovative and always serve those with thin wallets. As a father of three, what I see is, most importantly, these three reasons are part of the leadership transition to a climate-smart future. First, based on the facts and awareness of today, we simply cannot let ourselves pass [challenge] Entering the next generation. Second, it is clear that our clients and colleagues around the world want us to lead the way. People will cancel impossible brands. Expectations are not perfect, but sincere intentions and influential actions. Third – The good news is coming – this is perfect for the business.

Often, climate intelligence means cost intelligence. Waste has been expensive and every step of building a sustainable business model has a positive financial impact. We are the first generation that can create a sustainable future that is good for people and the planet. That should inspire us all.

Jesper Brodin will hold a signature speaker series at Columbia University’s Low Library on Tuesday, March 11. Pre-registration is required.