IKEA點亮偏鄉計畫｜IKEA

IKEA Light Up Hope Program

Improve the lives of families living in energy poverty and protect our home planet

Many families are caught in the dilemma of energy poverty, climate change, and the poverty trap. Money is hard to come by. The families cannot afford to replace old appliances. Energy-guzzling home appliances add to their electricity bill, increasing carbon emissions and making them vulnerable to electrical fires and disasters. With the national average electricity tariff rising by 11% from 1 April 2023, the burden of household electricity bills has increased, making it harder for people to make ends meet. As a result, people avoid turning on lights and using electricity, creating dark and hot living conditions, which seriously affect children's rights to learning and education. The poverty trap makes it difficult for households in energy poverty to turn their lives around.

Therefore, it is vital for enterprises to pay attention to the issue of carbon reduction. In response to the carbon emissions problems associated with using wood for fires and old appliances in households living in energy poverty, IKEA promotes climate change education and donates LED light bulbs through the IKEA Light Up Hope program. The aim is to help residents improve their living environment, reduce carbon emissions, and provide children with a better learning environment and education.

IKEA has been working on this project in Taiwan for three years, starting in 2020 and in Hong Kong in 2022. IKEA and World Vision are working together to raise funds through fundraising platforms, donation boxes, and donation publicity to bring support to more families. By December 2022, this project had improved the living space of 640 households by installing energy-saving products and replacing old appliances. It has decreased carbon emissions by 95.6 tons, reduced the impact of greenhouse gases, conducted 265 environmental and sustainability campaigns, educated more than 15,075 people on energy conservation, and fulfilled the corporate responsibility to protect the Earth.

Light up a bulb, protect children's homes together

Electricity tariff “hikes.” Let's focus on energy poverty

To encourage more people to participate in this project, raise awareness of the impact of climate change on vulnerable families in Taiwan, and support energy saving and carbon reduction, IKEA has also launched related fundraising campaigns. Donors can receive IKEA card rewards when they donate. The rewards act as an incentive for people to participate. The rewards strategy changes people’s donation channels and actions and increases public awareness of the issue. More people are involved in reducing carbon emissions and improving the living environment. Meanwhile, we are more involved in protecting our home planet.

However, while the IKEA Light Up Hope program is underway, we are also facing a national problem. From 1 April 2023, the national average electricity tariff increased by 11%, adding to the cost of electricity for many households. This increase is an additional blow to those living in rural areas and financially vulnerable families.

But it also highlights the importance of the IKEA Light Up Hope program. The LED bulbs donated through the program not only help residents reduce their electricity consumption but also make their homes safer. More importantly, they improve the learning environment for children, giving them a better future. IKEA will continue investing in the program in the hope of bringing light and hope to more families. We would also like to call on the public to pay attention to the problem of energy poverty in rural areas and to raise awareness of climate change. Starting with small things, we can add up small actions to great success and work together to keep our Earth a green home.

Browse other sustainability programs