Ingka Group announces first circular investment in China as it takes stake in plastic recycler Re-mall

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest Ikea retailer, reports a capital injection in Re-mall (Shanghai Re-mall Environmental Protection New Material Co.), a China-based recycler of post-consumer packaging waste, which uses a proprietary technique and process to produce transparent recycled polypropylene (“rPP”) for use in new products.

The undisclosed investment is part of Ingka’s commitment to support the transition towards a circular economy by investing in companies that are developing technology or growing capacity to prevent waste or supply recycled materials.

It also marks the first Chinese investment for Ingka Investments in its Circular Investment portfolio. China is one of the largest plastic markets in the world and occupies a pivotal role in finding circular solutions to tackle waste.

“This investment by Ingka Investments demonstrates our long-term commitment in China. To meet our customers’ needs for generations to come, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to take a lead in accelerating the circular economy beyond Ikea, and the scale and innovation capabilities here in the Chinese market create significant opportunities for this transformation,” says Pontus Erntell, President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ikea China.

Lukas Visser, Head of Circular Investments at Ingka Group, pictured above, says: “Re-mall’s strong supplier network and partnerships with leading Chinese food delivery service providers are already allowing them to create impact at scale for the local recycling market. By investing in Re-mall, we want to amplify this impact to help address a global plastic waste problem and contribute to the circular economy transition.”

Re-mall is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and operates a production facility strategically located in Jiangxi province, allowing for access to plastic waste streams from large cities, like Guangzhou and Shanghai, both in the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta economic zones. The investment will support Re-mall in increasing its recycling capacity and developing new products.

“We are happy to welcome Ingka Investments as a strategic partner in our mission to accelerate the circular economy in plastics. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey to scale sustainable solutions globally. Together, we aim to transform plastic waste into valuable resources, contributing to a cleaner planet and a more responsible future,” says ZHU Kuan, CEO at Re-mall.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Green retail will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.