Climate Week Zurich: How retail giant IKEA built the business case for sustainability
About this episode
The episode features an interview with Jesper Brodin discussing IKEA's approach to sustainability and its business implications.
All Things Sustainable is the official podcast of th e inaugural Climate Week Zurich taking place May 4-9, and all week we're bringing you special daily episodes from Zurich. In our fourth episode of the week , we're talking to a leader who spent 30 years working for Swedish retail giant IKEA: Jesper Brodin. Jesper recently retired after eight years as CEO of Ingka Group, the primary operator of IKEA's global home furnishing stores, and in March 2026 he was named Board Chair of The Earthshot Prize . Climate Week Zurich includes a focus on how sustainability can build competitive advantage , and in our interview Jesper explains how his career continuously showed him that companies can embr ace sustainability without sacrific ing economic benefits , quality o r affordability. "It actually is a good business to be a good business, " he says. To navigate geopolitical headwinds, Jesper says sustainable businesses need to strike the right balance between near-term and long-term thinking. "I think a long-term view gives you perspective . Then I think you should operate with a short-term anxiety and drive," Jesper says. "Governments and presidents will come and go, but the issues about…
People in this episode
Guest: Jesper Brodin
Topics covered
- sustainability
- business strategy
- competitive advantage
- climate change
- retail industry
Keywords
- sustainability
- IKEA
- Jesper Brodin
- Climate Week Zurich
- business case
- competitive advantage
- Earthshot Prize
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: IKEA, Ingka Group, The Earthshot Prize
Places: Sweden
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