1. Give a human face to environmental issues;
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

This year’s theme, ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’, is a topic that reflects everyone’s individual responsibility to protect the planet.

In honor of the day, I thought I’d share some of the ways IKEA and its Co-Workers are taking responsibility globally.

Ontario, Canada ~ IKEA Canada Co-Workers and Tree Canada celebrate 13 years of planting trees together as part of IKEA’s “Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree” program. The program is funded by last year’s Christmas tree sale and the $0.05 plastic bag fee.  Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree is responsible for 14,450 trees and shrubs, which will offset a total of 1774.4 tonnes of CO(2) in a 20 year period. This equals someone driving a mid sized car for more than 290,000 kilometres or 50 times from Vancouver to Halifax.

Maylaysia ~ Starting today, IKEA Malaysia will stop giving customers free plastic bags. Instead, customers are ­encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase IKEA’s iconic reusable Big Blue Bag. For ­customers who still insist on having plastic bags, IKEA will be charging 10sen and 20sen for each small- and medium/large-sized plastic bags respectively.  Chong Hock Ben, social and environment manager of IKEA Malaysia says, “The money raised from the sales of plastic bags will be donated to the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), which is the largest, oldest and leading local environmental non-profit ­organization.  “With the proceeds, IKEA in ­collaboration with MNS will plant and maintain mangrove trees at the mangrove forest in Kuala Selangor Nature Park to offset carbon dioxide emissions.

United Kingdom ~ With their ‘One Step Greener with Every Swipe’ program, every time you swipe your IKEA Family Card, IKEA makes a donation to Woodland Trust to create one square foot of woodland.

These are just a few of the ways IKEA is doing their part. Share with us how your local IKEA store and its co-workers are giving back.  Not just on World Environment Day, but everyday. Every little bit helps right? Let us know over in our forums.

I hear you, I hear you…what about the contest?!  Here it is!

*CONTEST*

Want to have a little fun and earn some prizes (including an eco-friendly vacation!)?  Yes?! Then head over here and tell IKEA how you are doing your part and re-using your Big Blue Bag.  I couldn’t find anything saying co-workers weren’t eligble so you guys join in the fun too! (and please correct me if I’m wrong on this!!)