# How IKEA Built a Co-Creation Partner Model for Sustainable Products

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-development-with-fexingo-partnerships-bd-and-strategic-growth-conversations-7871707/how-ikea-built-a-co-creation-partner-model-for-sustainable-products
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-development-with-fexingo-partnerships-bd-and-strategic-growth-conversations-7871707/how-ikea-built-a-co-creation-partner-model-for-sustainable-products.md
Podcast: [Business Development with Fexingo: Partnerships, BD, and Strategic Growth Conversations](https://stenobird.com/podcast/business-development-with-fexingo-partnerships-bd-and-strategic-growth-conversations-7871707)
Published: 2026-06-10T05:30:02+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/business-development/episode-0042.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/business-development/episode-0042.mp3
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Duration seconds: 566

## Resource

Episode 42 of Business Development with Fexingo dives into how IKEA built a partner ecosystem around co-creation for sustainable materials, from mushroom-based packaging to recycled ocean plastics. Lucas and Luna explore the Swedish furniture giant's shift from closed supply chain to open innovation, with concrete examples like the partnership with Ecovative for mycelium foam and the Better Cotton Initiative. They discuss how IKEA's 'Democratic Design' philosophy enables multi-stakeholder collaboration, the role of the IKEA Foundation in funding R&D, and why the company treats NGOs like WWF as strategic partners rather than activists. A fresh take on a legacy brand's modern business development playbook, with lessons for any organization trying to embed sustainability without sacrificing scale. #IKEA #SustainableBusiness #CoCreation #OpenInnovation #PartnerEcosystem #BusinessDevelopment #CircularEconomy #Mycelium #Ecovative #BetterCottonInitiative #WWF #ProductDesign #SupplyChain #Sustainability #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PartnershipStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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