Retail giant Ikea has given its 9,000 employees in the UK a fold-up bike each, in the hope that they will use them for all or part of their journey to work instead of using a bus or car.
The bikes were handed out at Ikea's annual Christmas breakfast, where workers are served by managers. The company has also launched a scheme giving a 15 per cent discount on travel tickets to encourage more staff to use public transport.
"We want to create a better everyday life for the many, and do what we can to make greener living possible," Ikea's UK manager, Peter Hogsted, said.
"The bike is a fun present but there is a serious message. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to protect the environment."