A playful new collection that inspires curiosity, supports conservation, and transforms everyday spaces into wild adventures.
BURLINGTON, ON, Sept. 29, 2025 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada is roaring with excitement to introduce SANDLÖPARE, a new children's collection inspired by the adventurous African savannah. Developed in collaboration with Swedish wildlife conservation centre Nordens Ark*, the collection invites Canadians to discover the world of endangered animals through imaginative play, storytelling, and curiosity-driven learning.
To celebrate the launch, IKEA Canada is partnering with WWF-Canada to support wildlife conservation efforts. From October 12 to November 29, $1 from every soft toy sold in IKEA stores across Canada will be donated to support WWF-Canada's Regenerate Canada plan to reverse wildlife loss, restore habitats and fight climate change.
"Connecting children to wildlife through play is a powerful way to inspire the next generation of conservationists," says Alex Portman, Head of Corporate Partnerships, WWF-Canada. "This partnership with IKEA Canada and the SANDLÖPARE collection is a chance to spark empathy, curiosity, and a lifelong commitment to reversing wildlife loss and restoring the habitats they call home."
The SANDLÖPARE collection features 29 unique products – including soft toys, textiles, and play furniture – designed to transform everyday spaces into immersive play environments. Children can turn stools into zebras, rugs into snakes, and their bedrooms into a savannah campsite, sparking creativity and a deeper connection to nature.
"At IKEA Canada, we believe that play is essential to every child's development, and that it can also be a powerful tool for learning about the world around us," says Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada. "Through SANDLÖPARE, we're not only encouraging imaginative play at home but also helping Canadians connect with nature and understand the importance of protecting endangered species."
Through its partnership with Nordens Ark, IKEA brings attention to lesser-known endangered species such as the flat pancake tortoise and the slender-snouted crocodile. These animals are brought to life through playful design and storytelling, helping children and parents discover the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
All soft toys in the collection are made from 100% recycled materials**, including the filling, fabric, and stitching. Each toy undergoes rigorous safety and durability testing to ensure it can withstand real-life adventures, from muddy backyard safaris to countless spins in the washing machine. Since 1997, IKEA soft toys have featured embroidered eyes for added safety and expression, giving each animal a unique personality while ensuring they're safe for children of all ages.
SANDLÖPARE is more than a toy collection, it's a playful invitation to explore, learn, and care for the planet, one story at a time.
*Founded in 1989, Nordens Ark is a private non-profit foundation focusing on nature conservation, breeding and rearing, as well as research and education.
**Except for the soft toy velvet monkey & baby that consist of 99.91% recycled materials, and the chimpanzee that consist of 99.84% recycled materials, due to the small Velcro parts on their hands.
ABOUT IKEA CANADA
Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer, offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 482 IKEA stores in 31 countries, including 16 in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 28 million visitors to its stores and 166 million visitors to IKEA.ca. IKEA Canada operates business through the IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people and does so through its local community efforts and sustainability initiatives. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit IKEA.ca.
SOURCE IKEA Canada Limited Partnership
For media inquiries: Alicia Carroll, Public Relations Leader at IKEA Canada, [email protected]
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