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May 23, 2023

IKEA Is Launching Solar

As IKEA continues their efforts to focus on sustainability, their latest bright

As IKEA continues their efforts to focus on sustainability, their latest bright idea surely fits the bill in spades. The Swedish company announced they’re partnering with solar organization Little Sun on an exciting collaboration, bringing solar-powered lamps to select IKEA markets in April, just in time for Earth Month.

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The collection is called SAMMANLÄNKAD, and it will include two sleek solar-powered LED lamps created with "capturing energy and creating light" top of mind. In a press release, the company noted that they hope the new products "awaken interest in how the sun can power everyday objects and raise awareness for the need for alternative energy solutions today."

In a behind-the-scenes deep dive into the collaboration, IKEA explained that the two lamps — one table lamp and another smaller lamp designed for portable use — were "inspired by the sun and the earth's angle and movement around it," with a gyroscope design that includes a half-shape sphere which contains the solar light source surrounded by the reflection of a mirror and a metal frame. It can also be used as a flashlight or a pendant, and it's entirely powered by the sun.

"With this collaboration, we wanted to spark a conversation around solar energy and put the power of the sun in the hands of the many people. Our shared belief is that the possibilities of thoughtful design lie in its ability to create awareness and make a difference," said James Futcher, creative leader at IKEA of Sweden, of the new offerings.

"I think the massive solar panels and tiny solar lamps are the most common approaches to solar energy. Many people don't have a real feeling or understanding for the possibilities to implement it at a medium level yet, where it can make a tangible difference in their daily life," added Philipp Käfer, designer for Little Sun. "We wanted to bring the solar energy to the house, to show it in a poetic way for people to literally have this energy floating in their home. [The lamp] has this heliocentric energy and our planet's orbit around it in the first gyroscope ring at a 23.5-degree angle, which is the axis of the earth in relation to the sun. And the light, a half-ball, is completed by a mirror to become a full ball, like the sun at its center. The gyroscope also offers the possibility to align the solar panel directly to the sun, so it can be charged efficiently."

The design teams took care to marry function with beauty, energy efficiency with art. It's unclear how much the lamps will cost and if they’ll be available widely in stores and online just yet, so stay tuned for more info on this illuminating new collab.