PRODUCT

IDEAL OF SWEDEN strives to integrate aspects of sustainability into our entire product value chain. 

PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN, we strive to deliver the highest quality in all that we do. We regularly update our products inspired by current trends and our customer to reimagine the future through sustainable design. Our approach to product development has always been linked with innovative form and functionality, for that reason, our end goals are to have reliable and durable products.

Our goal is to continuously challenge ourselves and seek for new innovative techniques to implement when creating products, to vigorously reduce the adverse effects on people and the planet.

ANIMAL-FREE AND ETHICAL

We are committed to our social responsibility to ensure that our products do not harm people or animals during development and use. As a animal-and-cruelty-free company, we recognise the importance of protecting the planet and are dedicated to creating products that align with these goals. 

We strive to continually explore new eco friendly materials and improve our processes to minimise our impact on the planet.

RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING

We recognise our responsibility and the importance of protecting the environment, human health, and human rights. Hence, we prioritise the preservation of ecosystems impacted by our operations. We are committed to minimising our negative impact on the environment by carefully evaluating the potential consequences of our business activities. 

We will continue to reflect on our operations to ensure that our business practices prioritise the protection of people, the environment, and its surrounding ecosystems. We believe that businesses have a critical role to play in preserving the planet, and we are committed to playing our part.

We pursue international certification like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. These certifications define quality management systems that meet industry standards and to protect workers and help businesses meet regulatory requirements in manufacturing, work ethics, healthcare, human rights, safety laws and service providers.

HUMAN RIGHTS

We prioritise human rights throughout our entire value chain and are committed to mitigating any related risks. We are committed to following the guidelines of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and take responsibility for our role in protecting these fundamental rights.

We prioritise the enhancement of our human rights management approach through a variety of measures. These include a thorough due diligence process, such as identifying human rights-related risks, employee training programs, and an improved incident management approach. Through these efforts, we strive to uphold the standards of human rights within our operations and supply chain.

DUE DILIGENCE

We maintain an effective supplier relationship and conduct due diligence through annual risk assessments, as well as annual supplier audits executed by third-party auditors. Since our factories are located in China – a high risk production country in terms of human rights – we follow up on audit validation to mitigate risks of nonconformity with both local and international laws and regulations. 

We are dedicated to monitoring our supply chain partners to ensure value for all stakeholders. Our approach involves factory evaluations to gather necessary information and in some cases random tailored audits. This commitment enables us to establish long-term relationships with our partners, promoting a sustainable and ethical business environment.

COMPLIANCE

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN we are committed to operating our business with respect to the high standards of business practices, social responsibility, and environmental protection stated in our Code of Business Conduct for Partners to IDEAL OF SWEDEN. We expect all our suppliers and subcontractors to uphold our core values and principles that are non-negotiable.

We strive to collaborate with suppliers who adhere to high ethical standards and comply with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective countries. Our goal is to ensure that our supply chain operates in a responsible and sustainable manner. We ask our suppliers to replicate the standards described in our Code of Conduct for Business Partners to IDEAL OF SWEDEN further down their own supply chains. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bribery and corruption, and are committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships.

LOCAL LOGISTICS

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN we primarily operate through business-to-business partners and e-commerce sales channels. We recognise our responsibility to offer low-carbon delivery solutions. One way we're addressing this is by striving for efficiency improvements in last-mile deliveries. 

We have made it happen by consolidating shipments to nearby locations and selecting shipping modes that reduce environmental harm, and partnered up with multiple courier organisation that constantly offset their carbon emissions. Using electric vehicles or alternative fuel vans for longer distance in-country deliveries and transport parcels on foot, by e-bike or through non-emissive and shared delivery systems in urban centres. 

Our efforts have resulted in significant progress in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.

PARCELS

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN we have significantly enhanced the sustainability of our parcels by focusing on two key areas; packaging and transportation efficiency. We have implemented measures to reduce waste by incorporating a higher percentage of recycled materials in our parcel packaging. This has resulted in a more environmentally friendly approach, as well as promoting a more responsible use of resources. These efforts reflect our commitment to sustainability and a desire to reduce the company's impact on the environment.

The operations at our warehouses in central Sweden and the Netherlands have been aided greatly by the use of innovative and sustainable packaging appliances. These appliances use an automatic carton packaging system that creates dynamic cardboard boxes from a continuous corrugated fanfold, which improves the efficiency of the packaging process. This technology is one of the most sustainable in the industry and reinforces the company's commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. With these machines, IDEAL OF SWEDEN is establishing itself as a leader in sustainable packaging solutions, by using a minimum amount of corrugated material, avoiding the use of plastic materials and ensuring that shipped parcels take up minimum space in the transport network.

Our company has implemented on-pack recycling labels to support customers in correctly disposing of recyclable materials. We strive to promote sustainable behaviors by encouraging the reuse of packaging materials in e-commerce returns. This method significantly reduces the amount of single-use packaging as well as paper waste because most of the packaging and pre-printed labels simply end up in the waste bin.

PRODUCT USE-PHASE

Longevity is one of the primary considerations in developing our product range, from the choice of raw materials to manufacturers, and the product's actual use. 

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN we have a selection of products that can be mixed and matched so that our customers can update the look of their already owned products and by so extend the use-phase of their already previously purchased items. 

On our website, we also provide a product care-guide for our customers, to inspire them to extend the product use and reduce the impact of disposal.

PRODUCT DISPOSAL

As reported by the World Bank, without urgent action, global waste might increase by 70% by 2050. Our ambition is to establish good waste management systems that are essential to building a circular economy. We have a long and complicated way to go; nevertheless, we aspire to find more environmentally and socially responsible ways to reduce operational and consumer waste.

At IDEAL OF SWEDEN we are in accordance with the EU WEEE directive on electronic waste. We also register with national authorities in accordance to the requirements of Sweden and Germany. All of the products that are subject to the WEEE Directive fulfil the WEEE marking requirements.

In 2021 we formed a partnership with FTI and in 2023 with the newly formed PRO to ensure that our packaging meets industry standards and is environmentally responsible. Our commitment to sustainable practices is reflected in every aspect of our business, and our partnership with PRO and Swedish Naturvårdsverket further solidifies our dedication to creating a positive impact on both the environment and our customers.

PRODUCT SAFETY

Safety is an integral part of our sustainability strategy, and we continuously introduce new measures to secure our product standards across the whole value chain. Our aim is to ensure that all of our products are not only customer-focused in terms of functionality but also from the perspective of human health and safety. In order to guarantee that IDEAL OF SWEDEN products comply with legal and regulatory requirements in our sales countries, we continually perform assessments and aim to stay informed on legal developments across the globe.

All products released under the IDEAL OF SWEDEN brand follow at least the minimum of the existing product-specific national and international regulations for each market where our brand is present. In markets where lower safety regulations apply, IDEAL OF SWEDEN voluntarily applies higher safety standards as those established by the European Union. For instance, we ensure that our products are compliant with the EU REACH regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 via quarterly testing of our products at third-party facilities that report back via a formal declaration. We also enforce that our suppliers only source from sub-suppliers that are EU REACH compliant during the production of our products.

Our chargers and power banks are compliant with the RoHS Directive (Directive 2011/65/EC) that aims to reduce the risks to human health and the environment by replacing and restricting hazardous chemical substances in electric and electronic equipment. The Directive aims to improve the prospects of sustainable recycling of material waste from such equipment at products’ end-of-life.

Our product team also performs in-home user testing (iHUT) and uses the products just the way our customers would in their day-to-day lives. This methodology enables us to get real-time data on how well the products will do when they are used in the real world, and what their shortcomings are.

We are also proud members of EcoVadis, providing us sustainability ratings and performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Its platform assesses suppliers’ environmental, social and ethical practices. EcoVadis' ratings are based on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, ISO 26000 and the United Nations Global Compact principles.