LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS - IKEA Group announced today that before the end of this year, it will expand its residential solar offer from the UK to the Netherlands and Switzerland, making solar energy affordable to many more homeowners. Over the coming 18 months the offer will roll out to a further six countries.

The IKEA Group has 315 stores in 27 countries. In addition there are more than 40 stores run by franchisees outside the IKEA Group. The IKEA Group had 716 million visitors during FY14 and 1.5 billion people visited IKEA.com. www.ikea.com As well as helping its customers to access renewable energy, the company is also making strong progress on the EUR1.5 billion it has committed to invest in wind and solar power for its own operations.

So far it has installed 700,000 solar panels on its stores and buildings and has committed to own and operate 224 wind turbines as part of its goal to match 100% of its energy use with renewable energy generation by 2020.

The company also highlighted a commitment for all plastic material used in its home furnishing products to be 100% renewable and/or recycled by 2020[1]. Together the announcements mark a significant step forward in the company's People & Planet Positive sustainability strategy.

The announcements were made in New York by Peter Agnefjäll, the IKEA Group President and CEO, on the eve of the UN Climate Summit which he is attending to call for ambitious measure to tackle climate change.

"We know that our customers want to save energy and live more sustainably at home, but we believe they shouldn't spend more money or time to do so. That is why we are determined to make sustainability both affordable and attractive to as many people as possible. I am delighted that we can now commit to bringing affordable home solar to a further eight countries, starting with the Netherlands and Switzerland," said Peter Agnefjäll.

The solar systems will be available in the first store in the Netherlands on 28th October and the first Swiss store in mid December, through a partnership with Hanergy. The offer will include full installation and warranties in an affordable package, enabling customers to significantly reduce their household energy bills. The systems are on sale now in all 18 UK stores at prices that have enabled more people to invest in solar when it was previously out of their reach.

The new plastics commitment is part of a comprehensive plan to transform the sustainability of the materials IKEA uses. The commitment means that by 2020, the plastic in every IKEA product -- from a washing up brush to a garden chair -- will be made from waste material or from renewable material such as wood waste. This change could cut CO2 emissions by an estimated 700,000 tonnes each year, equivalent to the annual emissions from electricity use in 100,000 US homes.

"The scale of the climate challenge requires bold commitments and bold action. That is why we are committing to go 100% renewable or recycled material for the plastic we use in our home furnishing products, building on our 100% goal for renewable energy, and our goal for 100% of our cotton and wood to come from more sustainable sources," said Mr Agnefjäll.