When global furniture brand IKEA announced it was harvesting honey from rooftop beehives at its Gwangmyeong and Goyang stores in Korea, the news caught many by surprise. Why would a furniture company suddenly care about bees? The answer goes far beyond an eco-friendly campaign or a simple act of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This initiative represents the very essence of Creating Shared Value (CSV) — a model that merges business growth with solutions to environmental and social challenges. More than that, it’s a living example of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles in action. By tackling the global decline in bee populations, creating jobs for vulnerable groups, and transforming idle spaces into community assets, IKEA is offering a clear vision of what future-focused, sustainable business should look like.
Designing a Sustainable Future — IKEA’s Strategic Insight
The idea of a furniture company producing honey may sound quirky, but behind it lies remarkable strategic foresight. Think about it: why bees? Bees are responsible for pollinating over 80% of fruits and vegetables — they are essential to global food security. As bee populations decline due to pesticides and climate change, IKEA saw an opportunity to connect its physical spaces and business assets to a global environmental issue.
Transforming Store Rooftops into Shared Urban Ecosystems
Instead of leaving its store rooftops or outdoor areas unused, IKEA turned them into urban beekeeping hubs in collaboration with the social venture Urban Bees Seoul. This partnership perfectly embodies IKEA’s core competency — creative space utilization — but for social good.
Here’s how it works:
- IKEA provides resources (space, facilities, and funding).
- Urban Bees Seoul handles operations, employing marginalized individuals to manage the hives.
It’s a sustainable win-win — IKEA contributes its assets, the partner provides expertise, and together they tackle both biodiversity loss and social inequality.
Beyond Charity — A Model of Shared Value (CSV)
Unlike traditional CSR activities that rely on donations, IKEA’s urban beekeeping is a CSV success story. In this model, business operations themselves generate social value and economic returns.
IKEA preserves the environment (bee habitats) and supports communities (job creation) — while also selling the honey produced. The proceeds go back into sustaining the beekeeping program and supporting the workers involved. It’s a circular, value-sharing ecosystem that benefits everyone: the company, society, and the planet.
ESG in Action — Investing in Biodiversity
In recent years, ESG management has become a corporate imperative. IKEA’s project directly advances both the E (Environmental) and S (Social) dimensions.
E: Environment — Restoring Urban Biodiversity
By providing safe habitats for bees, IKEA’s initiative rejuvenates urban ecosystems. The bees pollinate nearby plants, creating a healthier green environment around IKEA stores. This demonstrates a key ESG principle: companies must actively engage with environmental issues even beyond their immediate business operations.
S: Social Impact — Empowering the Vulnerable
Through its partnership with Urban Bees Seoul, IKEA offers job opportunities to those who might otherwise be excluded from the labor market. Training, employment, and income stability create real social impact — and when consumers buy IKEA’s honey, they participate in ethical consumption, supporting both nature and people.
Scalability — A Model for the Future
Following the success at Gwangmyeong and Goyang, IKEA Korea plans to expand the program to other locations like Giheung and Dongbusan. This scalability is IKEA’s superpower — its widespread network of large stores doubles as a potential national beekeeping hub. It’s an innovative way to turn corporate infrastructure into sustainable ecosystems.
Speaking to Consumers — The Rise of Conscious Consumption
When shoppers encounter IKEA’s honey pop-up displays, they’re not just buying honey — they’re buying into a story. The honey symbolizes life, sustainability, and shared responsibility. IKEA successfully merges brand storytelling with value-driven marketing, aligning perfectly with the modern trend of purpose-based consumption. Consumers don’t just purchase products; they make ethical choices that shape a better world.
The New Equation for Corporate Survival
IKEA’s urban beekeeping project sends a powerful message: corporate success can no longer depend solely on profit. In today’s world, long-term survival depends on addressing environmental and social challenges head-on. By investing in the survival of bees, IKEA is, in essence, investing in the survival of humankind — and its own future as a business.
A Textbook Case of CSV and ESG in Practice
Through its use of idle space, partnership with social ventures, and self-sustaining revenue model, IKEA has crafted a powerful example of how modern corporations can thrive while doing good. In the years ahead, companies will increasingly be judged not just by their profits, but by their real-world contributions to people and the planet.
So next time you shop, consider products like IKEA’s honey — small acts of “good consumption” that help create a more sustainable world. It might just be the smartest investment in our shared future.