Global Supply Manager
Susanne Waidzunas is a passionate leader who loves bringing together business and personal growth. She gets her energy and inspiration from IKEA’s mission: to create a better everyday life for many people. She enjoys making a positive impact on individuals, society, and the environment.
Susanne is the Global Supply Manager for the Inter IKEA Group. She oversees buying, transportation, wholesale, IKEA’s own manufacturing, and support activities across the entire IKEA supply chain. With over 20 years of experience at IKEA, she has held several leadership roles in the supply chain.
Before her current role, Susanne was responsible for global Supply Chain Operations. She focused on improving IKEA’s transportation and logistics services, managing the movement of IKEA products from suppliers to stores.
Technically, ceramics are recyclable, but they are unsuitable for standard home recycling bins for several reasons. First, their heat resistance makes them difficult to melt in standard recycling facilities. Additionally, the glazing process creates a glass-like layer that hinders the penetration of microbes and fungi, preventing biodegradability. Although ceramics are more difficult to degrade than plastic bags, they are inert materials that won't release harmful micro-particles or chemicals into the environment. This makes ceramics less harmful in the long term, which is why reusing ceramics is a key practice for sustainability.
技術上來說,陶瓷是可回收的,但有幾個原因讓它不適合當作一般家庭回收。首先,它們具有耐高溫的特性,所以在標準回收設施中很難熔化。此外,陶瓷上的釉料會形成玻璃般的層,阻止微生物和真菌的穿透,從而阻止其生物降解。儘管陶瓷比塑料袋更難分解,但它是無害的材料,不會釋放有害的微粒或化學物質進入環境。因此,重複使用陶瓷對環境永續性非常重要。
IKEA launched the SILVERSIDA series as a significant step toward its sustainability goal of using only renewable and recycled materials by 2030. This initiative introduces an innovative approach to producing high-quality, well-designed ceramic tableware from waste. The process involves grinding defective ceramics after the second firing and blending them with new raw materials to create new products. SILVERSIDA plates and bowls are made with 65-70% internal factory waste and aim to pave the way for future advancements in recycling post-consumer ceramic materials.
IKEA 推出了 SILVERSIDA 系列商品,向其到 2030 年僅使用可再生和回收材料的永續發展目標邁出重要一步。這項計畫引入創新方法,利用廢棄陶瓷生產出高品質、設計精美的餐具。製程中將經過第二次燒製的破損陶瓷研磨成粉,並與新的原材料混合,以製作全新的產品。SILVERSIDA 系列的盤子和碗是由 65-70% 的內部工廠廢料製成,也為回收已銷售陶瓷材料的未來願景鋪路。
As a recyclable material, ceramics have many limitations and regulations. This is due to the unique material and characteristics of ceramics, which make them difficult to fully recycle or decompose.
Ceramics are more difficult to degrade because of their heat resistance (1000°C), impermeability, and glazing, which prevents microbial and fungal penetration. The process of making ceramics creates waste at each stage, from mixing to firing. While waste before the second firing can often be reused, waste after this stage is harder to recycle due to the chemical bond.
However, we turn ceramic waste, which would normally be thrown away, into new tableware in our SILVERSIDA series. The waste is ground, mixed with virgin materials into a liquid slip, and turned into granules. The resulting tableware is made with 65-70% recycled material, with blue splashes that add style and hide imperfections.
This innovation not only helps reduce waste but also promotes sustainability in our everyday lives. With these technical properties, we are taking a big step toward responsible use of resources, supporting
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
References:
“Ceramic Recycling: Is Ceramic Recyclable & How Can You Reuse It?”
https://tinyeco.com/ceramic-recycling
“From Ceramic Production waste to Timeless Tableware”
“IKEA Sustainability Report FY23”https://www.ikea.com/global/en/images/IKEA_SUSTAINABILITY_Report_FY_23_20240125_1b190c008f.pdf
IKEA is testing a second-hand online marketplace, "IKEA Preowned," in Madrid and Oslo, aiming to promote sustainability by reselling used IKEA products. This initiative aligns with the circular economy model, which are reducing waste and encouraging durability, while also helping IKEA profit from resales. If successful, the platform may expand globally after December, which reflect IKEA's shift towards online services and sustainability.
宜家家居正在馬德里和奧斯陸試運行一個名為"IKEA Preowned"的二手家具交易平台,希望藉由轉售宜家產品來推動永續發展。此舉體現了循環經濟的理念,不僅致力於減少浪費,延長產品使用壽命,還能幫助宜家從二手銷售中獲利。若測試成功,該平台可能於12月後在全球推廣,展現出宜家向線上服務及永續經營轉型的決心與趨勢。
IKEA aims to become a fully circular business by 2030, focusing on designing all products with circular capabilities, using only renewable or recycled materials, and eliminating waste through reuse, refurbishment, and recycling. Key initiatives in FY23 include incorporating 65-70% ceramic production waste into tableware, introducing washable and replaceable product components, expanding the availability of spare parts, and launching buyback and resell services in 28 markets. Committed to following international circular economy standards, IKEA strives to reduce waste and enhance sustainability throughout its value chain.
宜家家居目標在2030年前成為循環經濟型企業,他們致力於將所有產品設計為具備循環能力,僅使用可再生或回收材料製造,並透過再利用、翻新和回收來消除浪費。2023年的主要措施包括在餐具中加入65-70%的陶瓷生產廢料、推出可清洗和可替換的產品零件、擴大備用零件的供應,以及在28個市場推出回購和轉售服務。宜家承諾遵循國際循環經濟標準,致力於減少浪費,並在價值鏈中追求環保永續。
One of our most innovative initiatives is the launch of “IKEA Preowned” in Madrid and Oslo. This peer-to-peer marketplace promotes a circular economy by extending the lifecycle of our products.
As a supply chain manager, the launch of “IKEA Preowned” is a strategy that can create a circular supply chain:
maximize the value of our products by extending their lifecycle
reduce the demand for new raw materials
minimize waste
return and resell furniture which feeds back into the supply chain
How to Use IKEA Preowned:
Search for Products: Enter the product name or upload a photo.
Add Details: Sellers can provide information about the product's condition, upload real photos, and set the selling price.
Check Dimensions: A special size field helps buyers easily see the furniture's dimensions.
Arrange Pickup: After placing an order, buyers and sellers can arrange pickup directly.
Receive Payment: Sellers can choose to receive cash or an IKEA voucher with a 15% bonus for future purchases.
If the trial operation proves successful, we plan to expand into the global second-hand furniture market.
We are taking a big step toward responsible use of resources, supporting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
References:
“Ikea Trials Resale Website to Rival eBay and Gumtree”https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy84j50xvemo
“Ikea is Testing a Secondhand Marketplace, but Only in Two Countries”https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/26/24228840/ikea-preowned-secondhand-marketplace-test
“IKEA Sustainability Report FY23”https://www.ikea.com/global/en/images/IKEA_SUSTAINABILITY_Report_FY_23_20240125_1b190c008f.pdf