Turning meatball scraps into renewable gas – IKEA U.S. and Vanguard Renewables tackle food waste
This announcement was originally published on the Ingka Group Newsroom. You can view the press release here.
Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has made a minority investment in Vanguard Renewables, a leader in transforming unavoidable food waste into renewable natural gas using proprietary anaerobic digestion technology.
IKEA U.S., a part of Ingka Group, is already piloting Vanguard Renewables’ food waste diversion service in five retail locations in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Food waste from store Restaurants, Bistros and Swedish Food Markets – including leftovers from customer meals and unsellable packaged goods – is collected in dedicated containers, transported weekly to one of the company’s anaerobic digesters, and processed into renewable natural gas and low-carbon fertilizer for local agriculture.
“At IKEA, we see waste as a resource. With Vanguard Renewables, we’re turning our restaurant and Swedish Food Market’s food waste into renewable energy and fertilizer. After reducing our pre-consumer waste by close to 50% over the last seven years, the equivalent of saving 83,000 meals, we are excited about the next step. This partnership will make every plate count while improving our operational efficiency,” says Javier Quinones, IKEA U.S. CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer.
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 Ingka Investments
Ingka Investments is the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer. They invest in assets, manage companies, and operate strategic businesses to preserve and create value for Ingka Group and IKEA – now, and for generations to come. Taking a long-term approach, they responsibly invest across six strategic areas: forestland, renewable energy, real estate, circular, financial markets, and business acquisitions and venture investments. Ingka Investments supports the transition to a circular economy by investing in companies that are growing recycling infrastructure to close the gap between capacity and demand. Further information on Ingka Investments: www.ingka.com/what-we-do/ingka-investments/
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on www.Ingka.com
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
For Media Inquiries
Vanguard Renewables - [email protected]
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