Joanna Yarrow, Head of Sustainable And Healthy Living For Ikea

Biography

Joanna, international expert in sustainable living, currently leads the work of Ingka Group (the largest IKEA franchisee and business partner) to make sustainable and healthy living affordable, attractive and accessible for as many people as possible worldwide, with the goal to inspire and enable 1 billion people to live better lives within the limits of the planet by 2030.

Previously she was Head of Sustainability for IKEA UK & Ireland, where she led the integration of all aspects of sustainability into core business and innovation.

She has long specialized in sustainable living and making green, healthy lifestyles attractive and accessible through consultancy, broadcasting, writing & practical projects. She was a founder of the sustainability company Beyond Green, providing strategic advice to clients ranging from city leaders to the Olympics. A “face” of sustainability, Joanna has also been a prolific media personality. She presented BBC3’s Outrageous Wasters, and has appeared on lifestyles and current affairs programs including GMTV and ITV Tonight.

She has also presented ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover, bringing a glamorous green touch to interior design. Joanna is the author of “1,001 Ways You Can Save the Planet”, “How to Reduce YourCarbon Footprint” and “Eco-logical!” – books designed to make green living easy & accessible for a broad range of readers.

She lives in Malmö in Southern Sweden, where she cycles to work, swims in the chilly sea and is turning her kitchen into a hydroponic salad farm.

People & Planet Positive Strategy

The IKEA Sustainability Strategy for 2020 “People & Planet Positive” was launched in 2012 with ambitious goals to transform the IKEA business, the industries in the IKEA value chain and life at home for people all across the world. Joanna’s leading the strategy stated that “our social and environmental initiatives focus on creating a net positive impact for society and the environment”.

This ambition has guided sustainability goals and commitments, covering the whole value chain, including supporting customers to live a more sustainable life at home.

Since the strategy was launched, several progresses came in, nowadays IKEA uses around 1% of the world’s cotton supply.

Joanna’s leading strategy stated that “our social and environmental initiatives focus on creating a net positive impact for society and the environment."

Vision

A good resume of Joanna’s vision would be “you can have a positive climate impact in most aspects of your daily life."

The better vision of Joanna’s goals can easily be shown through her own phrases during some interviews:“

Sustainability can seem overwhelming, with everyday life as our starting point, we looked at how we can work together for a positive impact.” A Better World Starts At Home is about empowering and enabling. “We found you could halve your carbon footprint by using what’s already available. If you use IKEA cotton, for example, you’re doing good as it’s 100% sustainably sourced.”

“There are so many easy ways to make a difference. By turning off the water while you brush your teeth, you can save up to 40 liters every day.”

Make conscious choices

The first wave of the movement focuses on climate action. “We spoke to people in 14 countries about climate action and how it relates to them,” says Joanna. “There was concern and a lot of motivation to act. But many people didn’t know what to do. We want to help kick-start the journey to living a better life within the limits of the planet, through knowledge, products, services and insights.”

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“We can’t solve the whole thing but there’s a lot we can do together. And many climate-positive actions have an upside – saving us time, money and improving our wellbeing.”

Healthier habits for everyone

“There’s a feel-good factor that comes from achieving something. You experience the benefits and it’s motivating,” says Joanna. IKEA Family is running workshops in-store to share practical tips and learn together, like ‘Container Cuisine’ with recipes for turning leftovers into delicious meals, and ‘In-Season Living’, for climate- and wallet-friendly tips to transition your home between seasons.

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References

Chris Coulter | CEO GlobeScan
“Joanna is one of the most remarkable corporate sustainability executives I have had the honour to work with. She is fiercely dedicated to a sustainable future, penetratingly intelligent on how to drive sustainability inside and outside of organizations, and highly committed to collaboration with others to drive systemic change. A perfect combination for the leadership we need going forward!”

Grant Williard | JouleBug Founder
“At JouleBug we have worked with sustainability leaders all over the world for over a decade. I have rarely worked with anyone more passionate, visionary, and yet pragmatic than Joanna. Since our first meeting to this day, Joanna’s authentic desire to see her efforts magnified to help the planet has been unequaled. She harnesses her desire and transforms it into a long-term vision, I would strongly recommend her for any role in sustainability, especially where vision, voice, and passion are key.”

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