Changes to the vehicle fleet at Ikea have been part of a company-wide strategy to reduce its impact on the environment.

In fact, according to Charlie Browne, the company has subtly altered its mission statement to suggest it should have an "overall positive impact on people and the environment" rather than minimise its impact.

Along with moving to run the business with renewable energy, the company has cut mileage across its fleet by 40%, and while it had run hybrid-powered Hondas for seven years, it has recently switched to full-hybrid Toyota Priuses and was also evaluating the Nissan Leaf electric car.

Browne said some of Ikea's customers were early adopters of new, greener technology, and that the electric vehicle charging point installed at its Wembley store was the most used chargine point in London.

He added that the company hoped to install more charge points at a new store due to open in Reading.