IKEA UK today announces that IKEA Greenwich has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM UK New Construction certification, a sustainability rating and accolade held by just 320 buildings around the world. 

The leading sustainable store is the first in the UK and only the second retail unit in the world to receive the sustainability rating with over 90%. IKEA Greenwich was designed and built to reach the highest BREEAM rating possible and by reaching ‘Outstanding’**, it has achieved the highest rating of any IKEA store in the world.

IKEA Greenwich incorporates a range of sustainable technologies such as solar power, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting and renewable construction materials, while maximising the use of renewable electricity with a super-efficient solar array and a geothermal system supporting the heating and cooling. There’s also lots of natural light throughout the store, reducing dependence on artificial lighting. The store features three landscaped gardens including a roof garden with a sedum roof to support insect life and raised beds, all accessible to customers and the community. The store is also highly accessible via public transport, with 46 bus services per hour directly serving the site.

Helen Aylett, Store Manager at IKEA Greenwich, said: “Achieving ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM certification is a huge step in our commitment to have a positive impact on the environment, the local community and our customers. The wide range of sustainable and innovative features that IKEA Greenwich offers are a great way to inform and encourage our customers  to take small steps to live more sustainably, whilst we strive to have a positive impact on the local environment.”

IKEA Greenwich is the 22nd full-sized IKEA store to open in the UK. In addition to the rooftop garden and pavilion, the store features a new Learning Lab – a dedicated space for customers, partners and the local community to explore prolonging the life of products, upcycling and reducing waste.  As such, the new store acts both as a test bed for behavioural change and a space to evolve how we help inspire and enable people to live a more sustainable life at home.

Hege Sæbjørnsen, Country Sustainability Manager at IKEA UK & Ireland adds: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and through our combined efforts across the business and in partnership with others, we have been able to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM UK New Construction rating. This is a prolific milestone in our journey to becoming a more sustainable and circular business, and also how we hope to inspire change beyond our own business. The many new sustainable technologies and initiatives allow us to meet the needs of our customers, whilst staying within the limits of one planet.”

Shamir Ghumra, Director of BREEAM at BRE said: “We are delighted that IKEA Greenwich has achieved the highest BREEAM UK New Construction Outstanding rating by a retail unit to date. BREEAM is the world’s leading building design certification and our aim is to drive excellence in sustainable building practices. IKEA’s 90.44% score reflects this. It’s testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability practices of the highest standard, for the benefit of all.”

BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the wellbeing of the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property investments.  BREEAM measures buildings against a range of variables, including indoor air quality, water usage, and innovation initiatives amongst others.

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