Developed in partnership with the Swedish wildlife conservation center Nordens Ark, the SANDLÖPARE collection encourages families to learn more through play and stories about endangered animals, as well as about ways to protect them, including through donations

In Romania, for every plush toy sold until November 30, IKEA will donate 5 lei to support WWF-Romania programs

According to the latest IKEA Play 2024 report, globally, only 51% of children are satisfied with the time they have available for play, and 54% of parents would like to have more time to play together with their children. In this context, the new IKEA SANDLÖPARE collection, inspired by the African savannah, encourages the spirit of adventure, creativity and role play in the everyday life of little ones. The collection comprises 29 items and projects a world in which stools become zebras, rugs are snakes, while the quilted mattress and storage boxes transform the child’s bedroom into a real campsite.
The plush toys in the SANDLÖPARE collection are made entirely from recycled materials*, including the filling, outer fabrics, threads and reinforcements. Testing plays an essential role in the development of these toys, so all items go through a rigorous verification process before reaching stores. This includes chemical and strength tests, as well as multiple machine washes – stages that confirm that each toy is safe and durable.

“We know what these toys go through when they reach a home. They will be bitten, chewed, stretched, scratched and, most likely, they will also get a few spins through the mud. That’s how it should be! For SANDLÖPARE, the giraffe’s neck was the most delicate part, because it had to remain firm even after multiple machine washes, yet at the same time, it had to be soft so that it wouldn’t feel like you’re holding a baseball bat. It was like a puzzle, but we succeeded and we are very pleased with the result,” says Jorge Omar Santoyo Henaine, product developer, IKEA of Sweden AB.
Since 1997, all plush toys from IKEA have embroidered eyes instead of plastic beads. What began as a safety measure also proved to be a design improvement, because embroidered eyes give the toys a lively and much friendlier expression.
Jorge continues: “For an IKEA product developer, the eyes are perhaps the biggest challenge. With a plush toy, everything is in the gaze. The size and positioning of a single white dot can make the difference between an angry, surprised, happy or sad expression therefore, we spend a lot of time to obtain the perfect expression. Our little plush animals are both safe and have personality.”

Donations for the protection of wildlife and nature
In addition to bringing joy and encouraging play, learning and creativity in many families, the SANDLÖPARE collection contributes to the conservation, protection and improvement of the natural environment and wildlife across the entire planet. In Romania, for every plush toy from the SANDLÖPARE collection sold until November 30, IKEA will donate 5 lei to support WWF-Romania (World Wide Fund for Nature) programs, part of WWF the largest nature conservation organization globally.