Stainless steel is found in everything from building structures and cars to sinks and knives. It’s easy to see why it has so many uses. Stainless steel is hard and durable and has good resistance to corrosion – namely rust. It generally has a low nickel content, and for IKEA products we mainly use stainless steel that’s nickel-free. Like many other metals, it can be recycled again and again to become new, hardwearing things – without losing its valuable properties.

When you use an IKEA kitchen mixer tap, you're saving water thanks to an aerator that reduces flow while maintaining pressure. We didn't invent aerators, but think they are a good example of how we value water. It's one of Earth's most precious resources, yet very little of it is drinkable and even less is accessible. No organism can survive without it either. That's why we want to be good stewards of water at every step, whether in our factories or in your kitchen mixer tap.