Ikea to move to clean energy by 2020, protect forests

OSLO (REUTERS) - Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, will shift to renewable energy by 2020 and grow more trees than it uses under a plan to safeguard nature that has won support from environmentalists.

The Swedish-based group, which wants to build on many customers' desire for a greener lifestyle, also said on Tuesday it would limit sales by 2016 to energy-efficient products including induction cookers and light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs.

"This will be a great driver of innovation," said Mr Mikael Ohlsson, chief executive of the firm which is known for its flat-packs and giant stores expected to be visited by an estimated 776 million people this year.

Ohlsson told Reuters he had no doubt the People & Planet Positive strategy would save money both for IKEA and its clients, although he declined to estimate total savings.