Report on IKEA’s MÄVINN Social Entrepreneurship Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

IKEA has announced the third iteration of its MÄVINN collection, a global social entrepreneurship initiative designed to create sustainable livelihoods through partnerships with artisan-based social enterprises. Launched in July 2025, the new collection of 18 handcrafted products underscores IKEA’s long-term commitment, initiated in 2012, to fostering economic growth and social inclusion in vulnerable communities. The program’s framework and outcomes demonstrate a significant alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning poverty, decent work, inequality, and responsible production.

Program Objectives and Strategic Partnerships

The core objective of the MÄVINN initiative is to generate fair and meaningful employment opportunities for artisans in regions facing economic and social challenges. By collaborating with social businesses, IKEA aims to create a positive and scalable impact that extends beyond individual artisans to their wider communities. The 2025 collection is the result of partnerships with enterprises in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, and Thailand. This model directly supports the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), showcasing a functional collaboration between a multinational corporation and local social enterprises to achieve sustainable development.

Direct Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The MÄVINN initiative is structured to deliver measurable impacts that align with key SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The program provides artisans with stable income and financial independence. By creating long-term job opportunities, it fosters sustained economic growth and resilience in communities, directly addressing the goals of eradicating poverty and promoting decent work for all.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The initiative empowers artisans, many of whom are women in rural areas, by improving their financial autonomy and social standing. This focus on marginalized groups helps create a more inclusive society and reduces inequalities.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The collection’s emphasis on handcrafted production and the use of natural, renewable materials promotes sustainable practices. Materials like banana bark, jute, and palm leaves are prioritized, aligning with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Magnus Nord, Implementation Leader for Social Entrepreneurship at IKEA, stated, “MÄVINN is about empowering positive change for the artisans and their communities… the impact of it resonates far beyond the surface.” This highlights the program’s deep integration with sustainable development principles.

The 2025 MÄVINN Collection: Co-Creation and Sustainable Materials

The latest collection features 18 handmade products centered on the theme of “table setting,” designed to celebrate gathering and community. The development process is rooted in co-creation and a commitment to sustainable materials.

Key Features of the Collection:

1. Collaborative Design: Products are developed through a partnership between IKEA designers and local artisans. Designer Maria Vinka notes, “They bring in their craft, and we amplify their work and bring it to the customer.” This process preserves traditional skills and cultural heritage while adapting them for a global market.
2. Use of Natural Fibers: In line with SDG 12, the collection makes extensive use of renewable and locally sourced materials. The raw textures and durability of these fibers are intended to reflect the resilience of the communities that produce them.
3. Empowerment Through Craft: Each product is presented not merely as a home furnishing item but as a tangible outcome of artisan empowerment, representing financial independence and improved opportunities for families.

Impact and Future Outlook

The MÄVINN program operates in remote rural areas that are often disproportionately affected by climate and societal challenges. Despite these obstacles, IKEA remains committed to the initiative, viewing each livelihood improvement as a measure of success. The program aims to create a “brighter future for generations to come,” according to Magnus Nord.

The 2025 MÄVINN collection will be available in IKEA stores worldwide and online from July 2025. To accelerate its impact, IKEA has announced that a new edition of the MÄVINN collection will be released every six months, with the subsequent launch scheduled for January 2026. This increased frequency signals a strategic scaling of the program to deepen its contribution to global sustainable development.

Analysis of SDGs in the IKEA MÄVINN Initiative

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on IKEA’s MÄVINN collection highlights a social entrepreneurship initiative that directly addresses or connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The core mission of creating jobs and supporting artisans in vulnerable communities touches upon economic, social, and environmental goals.

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The initiative aims to provide “sustainable livelihoods” and “financial independence” for artisans in “vulnerable areas,” directly contributing to poverty reduction.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is a central theme, with the article emphasizing the creation of “meaningful job opportunities” and supporting “social entrepreneurship” to foster economic growth for artisans and their communities.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By focusing on partnerships in “remote rural areas” and creating a “more inclusive society,” the program works to reduce inequalities by providing economic opportunities to marginalized groups.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The collection’s emphasis on using “natural, renewable materials like banana bark, jute, and palm leaves” and preserving “traditional craftsmanship” aligns with sustainable production patterns.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire MÄVINN project is a model of this SDG, representing a “collaboration” and partnership between a global corporation (IKEA) and multiple “social businesses” across several countries.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The article supports this by stating the initiative provides “financial independence” and “sustainable livelihoods” to artisans, directly tackling economic poverty.
2. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The article highlights IKEA’s support for “social entrepreneurship” and “handcraftsmanship,” which fosters creativity and creates “meaningful job opportunities.”
3. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. The program’s mission is to ensure “fair access to job opportunities” for artisans in vulnerable communities.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all. The article states the goal is to create a “more inclusive society” and empower artisans, leading to “improved social positions.”
5. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The collection’s commitment to “prioritize natural, renewable materials” and use “thoughtfully sourced materials” directly relates to this target.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project is a clear example of a private-civil society partnership, as IKEA collaborates with “social businesses” in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, and Thailand.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that could be used to measure the success and impact of the MÄVINN initiative:

• Number of jobs created: The core mission is “creating meaningful job opportunities.” Tracking the number of artisans employed through the partner social enterprises would be a primary indicator for SDG 8.
• Number of social enterprises partnered with: The article mentions collaboration with “different social businesses.” This number serves as an indicator of the partnership’s scale (SDG 17).
• Geographic reach of the program: The mention of artisans in “Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, and Thailand” is an indicator of the program’s international scope in reaching vulnerable communities (SDG 10).
• Artisan income and financial independence: The goal of “financial independence” implies that measuring changes in artisan income levels would be a key indicator of poverty reduction (SDG 1).
• Percentage of sustainable materials used: The focus on “natural, renewable materials” suggests that the proportion of these materials in the MÄVINN collection is a measurable indicator for progress towards SDG 12.
• Frequency of collections: The plan to release a “new edition of MÄVINN every six months” is an indicator of the long-term commitment and sustainability of the initiative itself.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hfbusiness.com