Due to circumstances beyond our control, tonight’s event has been postponed.
Jesper Brodin, one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2024 according to TIME Magazine, has been working at IKEA for the past three decades—including the last eight years as CEO. An engineer by training, Brodin has channeled his proclivity for solving problems and building solutions to his work as a global leader and climate advocate.
In addition to serving at the helm of an international company, Brodin is also a board member of World Resources Institute, chair of the B Team, vice chair of UN Global Compact and a co-chair of the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders.
On Tuesday, March 11, Brodin will come to the Columbia Climate School to give the Signature Speaker Series lecture, “It’s good business to be a good business.” State of the Planet spoke with Brodin ahead of his upcoming talk about his career path, the lessons he’s learned and why he wants to help lead the transition to a climate-smart future.
Can you talk a bit about your academic background and career? How did you become the president and CEO of IKEA?
I was born and raised in the city of Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden, known for its closeness to the ocean and its vibrant culture. I hold a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, which is also located in the city where I grew up. My IKEA journey began in 1995 as a purchase manager in Pakistan, and it’s been an incredible learning experience ever since. I have moved through various roles—from regional purchase manager in Southeast Asia to being assistant to IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and former CEO Anders Dahlvig. Before becoming CEO in 2017, I led IKEA of Sweden/Range & Supply, overseeing product development and the supply chain. Each role taught me something valuable about leadership and the power of bringing people together.
How do you integrate your work as a climate advocate with your work as a global business leader? What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities?
For me, purpose and profit go hand in hand—it’s not an either/or situation. Being a good business is simply good business. We’ve proven this by reducing our climate footprint by 30.1% since 2016 while growing the business by 23.7%. The biggest challenge is speed—we’re in the most important decade of climate action, and we need to accelerate change. The opportunity lies in innovation and collaboration; when we bring together different perspectives and capabilities, we can create solutions that benefit both people and planet.
Can you discuss any projects or initiatives you are particularly proud of?
Some of my proudest moments include the achievement of reducing carbon while growing the business. That is huge for us, and I’m incredibly proud of that. In addition, our decision to invest EUR 2.1 billion into lowering prices on thousands of products in recent years, as people’s wallets have become thinner, is also something that shows who we are as a company and brand. These achievements and many more show that we can create positive impact while growing our business.
“We are the first generation that can be part of creating a sustainable future that is good for people and the planet. That should inspire us all.”
You have set a company climate goal of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. What does that mean and how do you plan to accomplish this?
We are planning to reduce our carbon footprint 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050, at the latest. We have already come a long way on that journey and I’m confident that we have a good plan to go for the final miles. Recently, we launched our transition plan, where we share the details of our achievements so far, as well as our journey ahead. You can find it here.
What types of climate and sustainability efforts do you hope to see more of in the future from global companies?
We need to see more bold ambitions, collaboration and action from both public and private sectors. Recently, the World Economic Forum launched a report showing that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of proactive investments. Industries can reduce 10-60% of their emissions at no or limited additional cost. And it’s only when we work together that we can change the course of climate change.
What would you tell someone starting out in the climate and sustainability space? Have you received any memorable words of advice?
I have many heroes in this space. One is of course our founder Ingvar Kamprad, who [paved the way] for us at IKEA with flatpacks, material innovation and always serving people with thin wallets. Being a father of three I see, foremost, three reasons to be part of leading the transition to a climate-smart future. To start with, based on the facts and awareness of today, we simply cannot allow ourselves to pass this [challenge] on to the next generation. Secondly, it is clear that our customers and coworkers across the world expect us to lead the way. People will deselect brands that don’t. The expectation is not for perfection but sincere intentions and impactful actions. Third—here comes the good news—this is great for business.
In general, climate-smart means cost-smart. Waste has always been expensive and every step of building a sustainable business model drives positive financial impact. We are the first generation that can be part of creating a sustainable future that is good for people and the planet. That should inspire us all.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, tonight’s event has been postponed.
