IKEA to Remove Non-Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries by October 2021

IKEA to remove non-rechargeable alkaline batteries by October 2021 | Inspiring and enabling customers to live a more sustainable everyday life at home | IKEA will take another step to inspire and enable people to live a healthier and more sustainable life at home by removing non-rechargeable alkaline batteries from its global range by October 2021. With this decision, IKEA hopes customers who use batteries frequently will make a switch to rechargeable solutions – saving money while also reducing waste with regular use over time.

“We are pleased to be phasing out ALKALISK alkaline batteries from the range globally and increasing the focus on our rechargeable batteries,” says Lars Svensson, the Sustainability Director for IKEA Southeast Asia & Mexico. “We hope this enables the many in Southeast Asia to opt for an affordable and convenient rechargeable battery, prolonging the life of products and materials while also reducing waste and saving money.’’

The IKEA range of LADDA batteries are rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) that can be charged up to 500 times. Several current comparative Life Cycle Assessment studies show that rechargeable NiMH batteries have less environmental impact than alkaline batteries when used in high-energy-consuming devices that are charged on a regular basis - such as toys, flashlights, port-able speakers or cameras [1].

Already after 10 charges, a rechargeable NiHM battery such as the LADDA range sold in IKEA stores, emits lower greenhouse gas than alkaline batteries do when obtaining the same amount of energy. After about 50 charges, the overall environmental impacts [2] of NiMH batteries is equal or less than the impact of using alkaline batteries [3].  

“There are substantial savings to be made over time – on the environment as well as our wallets – when we adopt new behaviours and use rechargeable batteries to their full potential,” says Mr. Svensson. “And this also helps reduce waste.”

Last year, IKEA sold about 300 million alkaline batteries globally and, within the nine IKEA stores operated in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, customers bought some 3.4 million packs of non-rechargeable ALKALISK batteries. Hypothetically, if all IKEA customers switched from ALKALISK alkaline batteries to LADDA rechargeable batteries for high-drain devices (and charged them just 50 times), together we would reduce global waste by as much as 5,000 tons a year [4].

ALKALISK batteries will be phased out over time, providing suppliers time to adjust and allowing IKEA retailers to sell current stocks. The phase out is to be completed worldwide by October 2021.  At this point, the lithium ion button cell battery called PLATTBOJ will be kept in the range as some applications currently being sold by IKEA require a button cell battery to function.

References:

1. Comparative Life cycle analysis of alkaline batteries against rechargeable NiMH batteries. Dolci et al., 2016; Mahmud, 2019; Parsons, 2007, and Menet and Gruescu, 2013. 
2. Climate change, acidification, eutrophication (terrestrial, freshwater, and marine), freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity (cancer effects and noncancer effects), particulate matter, water resource depletion, and mineral and fossil resource depletion)
3. Comparative Life cycle analysis of alkaline batteries against rechargeable NiMH batteries. Dolci et al., 2016; Mahmud, 2019; Parsons, 2007, and and Gruescu, 2013.
4. Calculations are based on the comparative LCA studies listed in footnote 1, extrapolated to LADDA and ALKALISK batteries, based on FY19 sales figures of LADDA and assuming all LADDA batteries are charged 50 times according to IEC 61951-2 Ed.3 (2011) standards and in high-drain devices.