June 30, 2008 - IKEA Canada has reduced its use of plastic bags by 90% in six months as a direct result of customer demand.

After more than 60,000 customers urged IKEA to “ban the bags” in a survey conducted last year, the home furnishings retailer began charging $0.05 for plastic bags at its Canadian locations. The company is also selling reusable bags at $0.59 a pop to further cut down on plastic bag use.

The program was expanded to U.S. retail operations in April.

"We know that our customers are engaged and passionate about the environment and social responsibility,” says Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick, IKEA Canada’s communications manager. “They have clearly responded to the plastic bag issue."

IKEA has so far raised $102,000 from plastic bag sales, donating all proceeds to Tree Canada, an environmental preservation group.

Thanks to overwhelmingly positive response to the customer-driven bag ban, IKEA is exploring more ways to engage consumers on its in-store environmental initiatives. Earlier this month, IKEA Canada launched a green-themed website to keep closer tabs on its customers' attitudes toward environmentally and socially responsible products. The results will be published online.