The pilot program aims to put food scraps to good use by turning waste into renewable resources.
September 18, 2025 – Today, IKEA U.S. announced the launch of a food waste collection pilot that gives new life to food scraps and furthers the company’s goal of zero organic food waste by 2030. The pilot comes following an investment from Ingka Investments (the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer) in Vanguard Renewables, a national leader in organics recycling.
The pilot launches this month at five IKEA units in New Haven, Stoughton, Schaumburg, Bolingbrook, and Oak Creek, and will transform food waste like plate scrapings, kitchen trimmings and expired food goods from IKEA restaurants. Vanguard Renewables will collect the food waste and convert it into renewable natural gas and low-carbon fertilizer for local agriculture through a proprietary anaerobic digestion process.
“At IKEA, we see food waste as an opportunity, not a challenge,” said Javier Quinones, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA U.S. “This innovative pilot is about embracing creative solutions that turn waste into value. By recycling food scraps into energy and nutrients, we can minimize our environmental footprint while maximizing the impact of every meal served.”
Each unit is expected to divert around 250 pounds of waste per week, equating to over 32,000 pounds over the course of the six-month pilot. IKEA has plans to expand the program and continue the effort with additional units after the pilot.
“This pilot is just the beginning for our food waste journey,” said Paul Flite, Food Manager, IKEA US. “Not only are we keeping food waste out of landfills and improving operational efficiency, but we’re excited to be supporting local farmers and agriculture across the US to further our goal of creating a better everyday life for the many.”
Following the pilot, IKEA U.S. plans to expand the program to additional stores and locations nationwide, minimizing landfill waste and creating a scalable model for more sustainable food retail operations. This will contribute to Ingka’s objective to reduce operational waste and strive to recycle 100% of waste generated in our own operations by 2030.
“Vanguard Renewables is on a mission to divert unavoidable food waste from landfills and give it a second life as renewable energy,” said Michael O’Laughlin, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. “We’re proud to partner with Ingka to scale innovative food waste recycling solutions for retail supply partners like IKEA and deliver measurable progress toward a more sustainable future.”
Globally, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually, contributing to 8-10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S. alone, of the food supply is wasted each year, with much of it ending up in landfills. (World Resources Institute, 2023).
“Addressing our food waste challenge is not just good business, it’s essential for a livable future. This investment in Vanguard Renewables aligns with Ingka Group’s broader ambition to invest EUR 1 billion in scalable circular solutions across the value chain that address global challenges and build a sustainable infrastructure,” says Peter van den Poel, Managing Director of Ingka Investments.
Ingka Investments is growing its Circular Investments portfolio by supporting companies that scale recycling infrastructure and reduce waste. Vanguard Renewables joins Winnow, and RECO as portfolio companies using technology to fight food waste. Holistically, Ingka Group is on a transition journey towards a circular business with systemic changes from product design and material sourcing to enabling customers to prolong product life and reducing our own operational waste.
About Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables is a leading U.S. environmental services company and producer of biomethane from organic waste. Headquartered in Weston, Massachusetts, the company builds, owns, and operates on-farm anaerobic digesters that convert food, beverage, and agricultural waste into pipeline-ready renewable natural gas. Vanguard Renewables is rapidly scaling its national footprint, with operational sites across the Northeast and new facilities under construction in the Midwest and South. By diverting organic waste streams from landfills, the company is reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale while supporting critical domestic energy infrastructure and regenerative agriculture for America’s farms. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), part of BlackRock. Learn more at www.vanguardrenewables.com
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