IKEA might have a fix for Delhi's pollution woes
What's the story
Every year during winter Delhi gets engulfed in a blanket of smog, and so far, authorities have had very little success in tackling the problem of air pollution in the national capital. However, now, Swedish furniture giant IKEA believes that it has a solution to Delhi's pollution woes. If successful, IKEA plans to replicate the model across the world. Here are the details.
Solution
IKEA plans to reduce pollution by reducing crop burning
IKEA's proposed solution comes just three months after it set up its first store in India in Hyderabad. The Swedish giant's solution involves the re-use of crop stubble from farmers in northern India - it plans to collect rice straw from farmers and use the same as raw material for its products for India. The model could later be replicated in other megacities.
Quote
IKEA's statement about its plans for India
"Starting off in India, IKEA wants to turn rice straw into a new renewable material source for IKEA products. The ambition is to create a model for how to reduce air pollution that could be replicated in other megacities," said IKEA sustainability manager Helene Davidsson.
Crop burning
By procuring rice-straw from farmers, IKEA might have a solution
As it stands, crop stubble burning by farmers in northern India accounts for almost a quarter of the air pollution in the national capital. Most farmers burn rice straw after harvest as it is the most economical and the easiest way to prepare their fields for the next sowing season. Given that IKEA plans to procure rice straw from farmers, it just might work.
Re-use
Rice straw-based IKEA products will be available by 2019-20
As per the company's plans, India will be IKEA's first market where the company will convert rice straw into raw materials for products. While details of IKEA's plans aren't known, the company said that it would create a prototype produce out of rice straw by end-2018, and products made out of the same would be available in IKEA's India stores by 2019-20.
Other details
IKEA is working with NGOs, suppliers, and small-scale farmers
IKEA added that it was currently working with NGOs, suppliers and small-scale farmers to source and procure the rice straw to be used in its products. However, it is unclear how much of rice straw the company plans to procure and re-use. That said, if IKEA's model turns out to be successful, Delhi would get some much-needed relief in the years to come.