IKEA Launches Swedish Seedballs—an Insect-Friendly Spin on Its Famous Meatballs

IKEA is a one-stop shop for all things home decor. You can refurnish every room in your home—from your bedroom to the bathroom to your baby's nursery—in no time. But that's not all IKEA is known for. Enter Swedish meatballs—or in this case, seedballs.

In a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Denmark, IKEA is putting an environmental spin on its classic Swedish meatballs. They're not meat-based, and they're not for humans. Instead, they're made of wildflower seeds and compost, and they're for insects.

IKEA's Swedish meatballs debuted in 1985, made of a combination of beef, pork, onions, and other spices for flavor. And customers loved them. However, in 2020, IKEA launched plant-based meatballs that have just 4% of the climate footprint the original meatballs have.

Now, IKEA is ready to give back to the planet, one seedball at a time. Here's everything you need to know.

IKEA Seedballs for Insects and Biodiversity

IKEA's seedballs are just one effort from the company to embrace the environment and give back to nature. They're made of compost and seeds, and they can be planted almost anywhere, from your garden to a terracotta pot on your porch.

The mission? To provide insects and wildlife with pollinator-friendly plants and natural habits. And these seedballs come at the right time: Insect populations are decreasing as a result of global warming, climate change, and agriculture. A recent 2022 study published in Nature found that several insect species are declining by up to 49% in certain areas.

Plus, many bee species are endangered. And they're also threatened by climate change and intensive pesticide use. However, with these seedballs, IKEA Denmark and WWF are saving our pollinator friends, providing food and natural habitats. Thus, these insect-friendly seedballs support ecosystems and biodiversity.

IKEA's latest spin on the beloved meatballs is only available for a limited time—with over 7,000 kits available for purchase. And don't worry if you're not located in Denmark and can't get your hands on them. You can make your own seedballs using the instructions below.

How to Make Your Own Seedballs

One way to help our pollinator friends is to plant pollinator-friendly plants and let your lawns grow wild. In fact, IKEA's Danish site, in partnership with WWF, embraces Wild Gardens—aka Vilde Haver.

According to IKEA, you can plant these seedballs in your garden, on your balcony, or anywhere that insects pass through. The recipe IKEA provides makes six seedballs.

What You Need:

Clay or clay powder
Compost or garden soil
Wildflower seeds
Water

Instructions:

1. Mix clay, compost, and water well in a bowl. Make sure it's sticky enough to shape into a ball.
2. Divide into six portions and roll into "meatballs."
3. Make a small hole in each ball and place wildflower seeds inside. Close the holes.
4. Let the new seedballs dry out for a few days under the sun.
5. Plant the seedballs in your garden or a pot with sunlight and water. Give them plenty of space.
6. Watch insects enjoy the wildflowers that sprout—and embrace your wild garden!