New Zealanders have been included in IKEA’s annual Cooking & Eating Global Report for the first time since the retailer opened locally, with the survey pointing to stronger day-to-day sustainability habits here than the global average.

Based on 1,001 interviews in Aotearoa and more than 30,000 responses across 31 countries, the report says 69% of Kiwis consciously try to reduce food waste, compared with 63% globally. People here are also far more likely to use food storage to keep food fresh for longer (47% versus 26%) and to cook with home‑grown food (36% versus 21%).

Other gaps show up in planning and shopping. Sixty-three percent prioritise reusable shopping bags (global: 55%), 44% plan meals in advance (global: 32%) and almost half say they do one big weekly shop rather than multiple trips (global: 33%).

In the kitchen, 62% say they cook from scratch (global: 46%), 40% prepare food for several meals at a time (global: 32%), 47% buy seasonal produce (global: 38%), and 30% buy fewer packaged products (global: 25%). Nearly two‑thirds (64%) view throwing away food as a waste of money, compared with 56% globally. Forty‑eight percent report using energy‑efficient appliances, versus 38% globally.

“These insights show just how deeply sustainability is woven into everyday life,” said Edward Hincks, IKEA New Zealand’s home furnishing and retail design manager, adding that the habits described align with the company’s focus on reducing waste at home.

The figures are self‑reported and come from an IKEA‑commissioned survey; the release does not include detailed methodology beyond sample sizes. IKEA used the announcement to promote food‑storage and waste‑sorting products it says support these behaviours.

The full 2026 Cooking & Eating Global Report is available from IKEA.