September 18, 2025. Today, IKEA U.S. announced the launch of a food waste collection pilot that gives new life to food scraps and furthers the company’s goal of zero organic food waste by 2030. The pilot comes following an investment from Ingka Investments (the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer) in Vanguard Renewables, a national leader in organics recycling.
The pilot launches this month at five IKEA units in New Haven, Stoughton, Schaumburg, Bolingbrook, and Oak Creek, and will transform food waste like plate scrapings, kitchen trimmings and expired food goods from IKEA restaurants. Vanguard Renewables will collect the food waste and convert it into renewable natural gas and low-carbon fertilizer for local agriculture through a proprietary anaerobic digestion process.
“At IKEA, we see food waste as an opportunity, not a challenge,” said Javier Quinones, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA U.S. “This innovative pilot is about embracing creative solutions that turn waste into value. By recycling food scraps into energy and nutrients, we can minimize our environmental footprint while maximizing the impact of every meal served.”
Each unit is expected to divert around 250 pounds of waste per week, equating to over 32,000 pounds over the course of the six-month pilot. IKEA has plans to expand the program and continue the effort with additional units after the pilot.
“This pilot is just the beginning for our food waste journey,” said Paul Flite, Food Manager, IKEA US. “Not only are we keeping food waste out of landfills and improving operational efficiency, but we’re excited to be supporting local farmers and agriculture across the US to further our goal of creating a better everyday life for the many.”
Following the pilot, IKEA U.S. plans to expand the program to additional stores and locations nationwide, minimizing landfill waste and creating a scalable model for more sustainable food retail operations. This will contribute to Ingka’s objective to reduce operational waste and strive to recycle 100% of waste generated in our own operations by 2030.
“Vanguard Renewables is on a mission to divert unavoidable food waste from landfills and give it a second life as renewable energy,” said Michael O’Laughlin, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. “We’re proud to partner with Ingka to scale innovative food waste recycling solutions for retail supply partners like IKEA and deliver measurable progress toward a more sustainable future.”