IKEA Chain of Traceability - Blockchain-based Digital Twins
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Retail · Organisation: IKEA · Maturity level: Concept
IKEA's Research Lab SPACE10 developed the concept project 'Chain of Traceability' in cooperation with FIELD.IO, combining blockchain technology with augmented reality. The system creates digital twins of household objects that are registered on a blockchain and store detailed information about production history, materials used, and carbon footprint. Customers can access this information directly on the product through AR technology and receive complete transparency about the manufacturing chain.
Documentation status
- Project status: Concept
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
IKEA Space10 — an independently operating research and design lab supported by the IKEA brand — developed the experiment "Chain of Traceability" with the design studio Field.io. It is one of six studies in the "Everyday Experiments" series on Privacy & Trust. The premise: What if every household object were registered on the blockchain — with complete production history, material composition, and CO₂ footprint, accessible via Augmented Reality? This is a research concept, not a deployed production system.
IKEA Space10 published the "Chain of Traceability" study as part of the "Everyday Experiments" series. Core concept: Every everyday object receives a digital twin on the blockchain. Users can scan the physical object with an AR app (similar to Google Lens with AI object recognition) and display its full history as a "product signature" — from raw material origin through processing steps to the CO₂ footprint of each transport leg. The study’s example product is the MAMMUT stool made of polypropylene: The material is bio-based plastic from plant oil, produced in China, processed in Europe, injection-moulded in India — accumulating a footprint along the way that the bio-based material alone would not suggest. The study also shows potential for the circular economy: products indicate how and for what purpose they can be reused at the end of their lifecycle. Frederick Axén, Digital Manager IKEA: "By bringing technology into our homes, we wanted to explore how it can be part of our everyday lives while we feel safe and free in our spaces."
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
For manufacturers like IKEA, blockchain-based product traceability offers a robust foundation for sustainability communication: immutable data instead of PR claims. Regulatory compliance (EU Digital Product Passport) also becomes structurally feasible.
B2C — consumers perspective
Consumers could instantly see via smartphone where a product comes from, what it contains, its CO₂ footprint, and how it can be recycled at the end of its life — without researching databases. This enables informed purchasing decisions and strengthens trust in sustainability claims.
Employees perspective
Sales staff become advisors for sustainable product decisions and must familiarise themselves with digital tools for product presentation. The system requires new skills in data interpretation and handling AR technology but also offers the opportunity to advise customers on a completely new level.
Benefits
General
- The system creates full transparency in the supply chain and enables consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
- The combination of blockchain and AR offers an innovative and trustworthy customer experience that clearly differs from conventional product presentations.
- Companies can credibly document their sustainability efforts and position themselves as pioneers of transparent trade.
B2B — organisations
- Companies can justify premium prices for sustainable products through verifiable transparency and attract new customer-conscious target groups.
B2C — consumers
- Customers gain access to complete and verified product information that helps them make sustainable and ethical purchasing decisions.
Employees
- Sales staff receive a powerful tool for customer advice and can present complex product information visually and interactively.
Challenges
General
- Integrating blockchain technology and AR requires significant technical expertise and investments in new infrastructures.
- Capturing and standardising production data along the entire supply chain presents a complex organisational challenge.
B2B — organisations
- Companies must digitise their entire supply chain and may need to change partners who are unwilling to provide transparent data.
Employees
- Employees need comprehensive training in new technologies and must learn to explain complex data analyses understandably to customers.
Technology foundation
The system uses blockchain technology as an immutable database in which every product is registered with its complete manufacturing information. The blockchain is particularly suitable for this use case as it enables tamper-proof records across the entire supply chain and builds trust among all involved parties.
Implementation examples
IKEA Chain of Traceability Concept Study
IKEA wanted to explore how new technologies could improve product transparency and appeal to sustainability-conscious customers. The company sought innovative ways to build consumer trust and position itself as a pioneer in transparent and sustainable trade.
IKEA's Research Lab SPACE10 developed a conceptual study for blockchain-based digital product twins with AR integration in collaboration with FIELD.IO.
The Chain of Traceability project was developed as one of six visual and technical studies in SPACE10's 'Everyday Experiments' series between 2021 and 2022. The concept demonstrates how blockchain technology can be combined with augmented reality to create digital twins of household products. The study shows how customers can access detailed information about production history, materials used, and carbon footprint by scanning products, with all data securely stored on a blockchain to prevent tampering.
The project addresses the growing demand for product transparency and the challenge of making complex supply chain data understandable and accessible to consumers. At the same time, it solves the issue of credibility in sustainability claims through tamper-proof blockchain technology.
Tags
Product transparency, Augmented Reality, Digital twins, Sustainability, Supply chain