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Ikea stops selling regular batteries, only allows rechargeable ones

Furniture giant Ikea has decided to stop selling regular, non-chargeable batteries in its stores worldwide.

The change will come into effect in October 2021 after which date, company will only sell rechargeable batteries in its stores.

"By phasing out alkaline batteries and focusing on our range of rechargeable batteries, we are taking one step on that journey, offering customers an affordable and convenient solution to prolong the life of products and materials and reduce waste."

-Ikea Sustainability Development Manager Caroline Reid

According to Ikea, by switching to rechargeable batteries, customers could help it reduce more than 5,000 tons of electrical waste, as Ikea sold about 300 million standard alkaline batteries between September 2018 and August 2019. The 5,000 figure is based on calculation where company assumes customer would charge the rechargeable battery 50 times.



Source: Ikea press release

Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 1 Oct 2020 3:54

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• 3 comments

• pcrazy99

  That sucks. I hope this isn't a trend with other retailers. Rechargeable batteries can be a huge inconvenience.

  2.10.2020 14:53 #1

• fb2075

  Originally posted by pcrazy99: That sucks. I hope this isn't a trend with other retailers. Rechargeable batteries can be a huge inconvenience. I'm sure alkaline batteries will never go away and you'll always be able to buy them at places like Walmart, Target and online.
  

  2.10.2020 18:18 #2

• SoTired

  Company that sells disposable furniture is too eco-friendly to sell disposable batteries?
  
  That's rich.
  
  If you want to save the environment, maybe refuse to sell furniture that's built so poorly it won't last more than a few years.

  7.10.2020 05:30 #3