Umicore: From laggard to sustainability champion

The case describes IKEA’s new approach to making an impact through IKEA Belgium’s “Welcome Home Project,” dedicated to assisting single-parent families. The idea for the program came about during a cross-functional brainstorming session and initially involved donating funds and furniture to centers and shelters supporting such families. The project evolved to engage IKEA co-workers who volunteered their expertise during working hours to help set up housing and shelters. Another dimension was added as the initiative gained momentum and IKEA began collaborating with numerous social welfare organizations, collectively working towards policy changes intended to create a fairer and more supportive environment for single-parent families. While the program achieved remarkable results, the journey was not without its share of challenges. Transitioning from traditional donations to more innovative collaborative approaches required courage, and the team encountered resistance and skepticism along the way. Some of the social welfare organizations questioned the authenticity of IKEA’s motives, sometimes assuming economic self-interest instead of altruism. Collaboration with organizations that were so fundamentally different from IKEA required perseverance. Despite the enthusiasm of the IKEA co-workers who volunteered to support the social welfare organizations, internal communication efforts to raise awareness about the program proved to be an ongoing challenge. Recognizing the potential for international inspiration, IKEA considered sharing insights within its network. Simultaneously, the local team contemplated the next steps for IKEA Belgium, aware of the potential for further impact.

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