The story of FAMNIG, a heart-shaped child’s cushion with outstretched arms, set the new norm in toy industry. In 1997 a co-worker at IKEA discovered that the eyes on the soft toys at Children’s IKEA could come off, what created choking hazard. Straight after noticing this all soft toys were removed from the stores.
Production at the supplier company in India was halted, but IKEA wanted to take responsibility for the workers at the factory and carried on working with the company. And one of the first new products made there was FAMNIG, which appeared in the range in 1998.
This led to an even more structured approach to safety at IKEA, particularly on children’s products. Clearer routines and responsibilities were established, and one of many important measures was that IKEA decided to no longer use plastic eyes on its toys. Embroidered eyes were not only safer, they also turned out to give the toys more character and personality. At the time this was not the norm in the toy industry, but after a while many other companies followed suit.
Heart-shaped toy is highly loved in Lithuania and most popular month for FAMNIG is the month of love – February.
Production at the supplier company in India was halted, but IKEA wanted to take responsibility for the workers at the factory and carried on working with the company. And one of the first new products made there was FAMNIG, which appeared in the range in 1998.
This led to an even more structured approach to safety at IKEA, particularly on children’s products. Clearer routines and responsibilities were established, and one of many important measures was that IKEA decided to no longer use plastic eyes on its toys. Embroidered eyes were not only safer, they also turned out to give the toys more character and personality. At the time this was not the norm in the toy industry, but after a while many other companies followed suit.
Heart-shaped toy is highly loved in Lithuania and most popular month for FAMNIG is the month of love – February.
Children safety at IKEA
The safety of customers comes first at IKEA. It’s especially relevant when it comes to children.IKEA has dedicated a separate range for children that is produced differently from other range – different materials, paints and constructions used to assure ergonomics, durability and safety of the furniture. All of IKEA children’s products are tested at our own accredited test laboratory in Sweden, as well as at independent accredited test laboratories and institutes around the world. To ensure that all of products live up to IKEA‘s demanding standards for quality and safety, they are subjected to regular testing throughout their lifetimes. In the case of many of children's products, we go above and beyond the legal requirements. For example, we have phased out any chemicals that are suspected of causing medical reactions or being harmful. Colourants that have been identified as carcinogenic are banned from use in our products.
80 years of IKEA
IKEA, Swedish furniture company is well known around the world for its Scandinavian design and quality. Company works following the vision “To create a better everyday life for the many people” which goes beyond home furnishing. IKEA is proud of our 80 years of innovations, solutions, iconic products, and actions as a company, that each decade shaped the future of living and our commitment to people, responding to the nuanced reality of their needs, habits, and desires.This August IKEA in Lithuania celebrates 10th anniversary.
