IKEA has launched a nationwide competition, inspiring children across the UK to create innovative and sustainable concepts for their school. Supporting Let’s Go Zero’s nationwide campaign to make all 32,000 UK schools zero carbon by 2030, the retailer pledges to provide the products, solutions and funds to bring four children’s winning designs to life at their school.
The competition comes as new research from IKEA reveals 8 in 10 (83%) of children aged 5-16 want to make changes at school to help combat climate change, with almost two thirds (65%) saying they feel their school has already implemented some initiatives, but not enough. In fact, schools have the power to prevent 625,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Lowering electricity use or boosting the energy-efficiency of buildings are just some of the small changes that can have a huge impact.
With 42% of all UK households home to school aged children, the classroom is a natural place to inspire change across communities for the next generation. Both schools and children play a critical role in helping the UK cut carbon emission levels, building on the existing energy and passion of the next generation to be more climate conscious and make beneficial changes. The initiative aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of UK schools and promote healthy and sustainable living for the many.
Many of the younger generation are somewhat savvy to being more sustainable, with 6 in 10 (62%) saying sustainability is important to them and over a third (38%) claiming they know more about sustainability than their parents. The research also revealed that 8 in 10 (87%), children between the age of 5-16 recycle their rubbish, three quarters (75%) make sure to turn off the lights when they aren’t needed and over a half (55%) have a shower instead of a bath.
Top 10 things 5–16-year-olds say they are doing to combat climate change:
| Recycling rubbish |
87% |
| Turn off lights when not needed |
75% |
| Donate old clothes to charity shops |
71% |
| Walk instead of travelling by vehicles |
67% |
| Turn switches off plugs |
62% |
| Have a shower instead of a bath |
55% |
| Put any food leftovers in a compost bin |
38% |
| Grow fruit and vegetables at home |
34% |
| Eat less meat |
22% |
| Ask my parents to take public transport |
16% |
Nearly half (42%) say they still feel confused by the subject of sustainability with a further 8 in 10 (80%) wanting to learn more at school about climate change and over half (51%) feeling it isn’t covered enough in lessons. However, children have highlighted how it isn’t just the responsibility of schools to take steps towards making change, with nearly all claiming that the Government (91%) and businesses (87%) should do more to help families and schools lower their carbon footprint. With many young people already calling for climate change, the IKEA Let’s Go Zero Competition will enable schools to lead by example and inspire others to be a part of the UK’s zero carbon transformation.
Competition entries will be judged by a panel from IKEA and climate solutions charity Ashden, which coordinates the Let’s Go Zero campaign, alongside Marsha Smith, Country Deputy Retail Manager at IKEA, who will select four winning designs to be created.
Marsha Smith, Country Deputy Retail Manager at IKEA Group UK & IE, said: “At IKEA, we’re committed to making healthy and sustainable living accessible and affordable for the many while inspiring the next generation.”
“We’re proud to be partnering with the Let’s Go Zero campaign, encouraging children to pave the way for a sustainable future. Small simple changes can have a huge impact, whether that’s introducing more plant-based menus or launching a uniform swap shop. We can’t wait to see the projects and ideas that will help make schools more sustainable, while inspiring all ages to tackle the climate crisis.”
Alex Green, Schools Lead at Let’s Go Zero, said: “The IKEA Let’s Go Zero Competition is a wonderful way for children to create exciting projects to help make their schools more sustainable and then see them brought to life! We are so pleased to be partnering with IKEA to make this happen and to help share the message of climate action into schools and homes across the UK. Through the Let’s Go Zero campaign schools are working together to be zero carbon and this competition can make their ideas become a reality.”
Visit ikea.co.uk/letsgozero for more information on how to enter the IKEA Let’s Go Zero Competition. Also head over to the Let’s Go Zero website to sign up and support the campaign at https://letsgozero.org/.
Entries for the competition are now open, and will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, June 30.
