IKEA Japan launches Better Living app to promote sustainable living

Taking action for green and sustainable living is meaningful and essential. And today, a lot of us try to make greener choices in our everyday life. But how many of us know exactly how much eco-friendly actions we’ve made in a day? Wouldn’t it be more inspiring to see the data? A new app by IKEA Japan will keep track of your eco-actions and even reward you for sustainable habits!

To join IKEA’s eco-habit challenge, you will need to first download its Better Living app. Then, all you need to do is to record your sustainable action. It’s a gamified process in which anybody aged 18 and over can join using the app. There are special prizes, including IKEA gift cards worth 10,000 JPY for the top 10 winners during the challenge period, and 3,000 JPY gift cards for 50 winners every week. There is even a treat for participating — a plant-based soft serve ice cream available at IKEA stores.

IKEA is a global home furnishing brand from Sweden that started in 1943. The brand started business in Japan back in 1974 but withdrew from the Japanese market in 1986, seeing that the brand didn’t meet the market’s demand. In 2006, 20 years after the withdrawal, IKEA returned to Japan. This time, it adjusted to the Japanese standards, introducing products that are compatible with Japanese homes, establishing popularity.

Today, IKEA tackles to make changes not only for each household but also to improve the environment — our ‘home.’ For example, it plans to ban single-use plastics and aims to change every plastic product to a recycled or reusable material by 2030. Also, by 2030, the company set a goal to provide a better living for one billion people around the world using the limited resources we have. The new app is part of its progress towards achieving a sustainable future.

Influential businesses such as IKEA can enhance people’s awareness on tackling social issues. Businesses providing a chance for people to start eco-friendly actions is something that needs to be carried on for good. Apart from private firms, we’ve seen the Tokyo Metropolitan Government start the ‘Zero-emi-point’ program for citizens of Tokyo, which promotes the purchase of energy-efficient home appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and hot water supplies. It wants to achieve a low-carbon society and achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Tokyo Metropolitan Government rewards gift certificates for consumers who have earned Tokyo Zero-emi-point from purchasing energy-efficient appliances. Rewarding benefits for choosing eco-friendly alternatives or making green actions is an effective measure to attract people’s attention.

IKEA’s challenge period is from Sep 3 to Oct 4, 2020. Join the eco-habit challenge that may change your lifestyle, the environment, and receive rewards for the good deeds.