Well, if we didn't love Ikea curtains enough already, they've just made them even more brilliant. Now, not only do they look great for a really affordable price, but the new GUNRID curtains also reduce the air pollution in your home!
How, might you ask? How will a humble curtain help you breathe better air? Keep on scrolling to find out more about this innovative new lKEA launch...
So, how does the GUNRID curtain work? Ikea has collaborated with universities in Europe and Asia to create a mineral-based surface treatment that breaks down common indoor air pollutants including odours and chemicals from common cleaning products. Using a unique technology, that we won't even attempt to explain, the process of purifying the air is activated by both outdoor and indoor light.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently named pollution as the single largest environmental health risk, and it's estimated that around 90 per cent of people worldwide breathe polluted air. With indoor pollution causing 4.3 million deaths annually and with proof that air pollution inside our homes can be five times worse than outside, this is scary stuff that we should be acting on and Ikea has definitely taken a step in the right direction.
Ikea is the first brand to mass produce a product like this, and when we are all aware of how harmful air pollution can be, there couldn't be a better time to try and get it under control in our own homes. Read on to find more information on this innovative product and you'll find links to other useful articles on creating a clean home environment too.
Lena Pripp-Kovac, Head of Sustainability at Inter IKEA Group, says:
'Besides enabling people to breathe better air at home, we hope that GUNRID will increase people’s awareness of indoor air pollution, inspiring behavioural changes that contribute to a world of clean air.
'GUNRID is the first product to use the technology, but the development will give us opportunities for future applications on other textiles. We know that there is no single solution to solve air pollution. We work long term for positive change, to enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives.'
Of course, Ikea are also all about making these kinds of innovative ideas and designs, accessible and affordable, so it's amazing to see these new curtains cost just £25. They will be available online and in-store from February 2020.