Ikea, Greenpeace accuses: some furniture may contain wood from ancient forests

The Ikea replica

Ikea reiterates its commitment to respecting biodiversity, but explains that the report uses an incorrect definition of “old-growth forest”, to define which, Ikea claims, the age of the trees is not sufficient, but various criteria must be considered.

«The Greenpeace report suggests that the age of trees is the only criterion for defining primeval forests – says the group’s note -. However, in reality, there are multiple criteria to define primeval forests, age being just one of them. According to the national forest management standard established by the FSC and the Romanian authorities, the criteria for primeval forests include, but are not limited to, the age of the trees, the size of the area with old trees, the composition of the species present, the amount of dead wood, the level of disturbance, such as human intervention, and more. Primeval forest is a category of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF). This is part of the forestry requirements of the IKEA Supplier Code of Conduct (IWAY). IKEA does not accept wood from Intact Forest Landscapes or other areas identified as HCVF unless the area is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). As our wood is FSC certified, all supply chains and forests are subject to annual checks by FSC accredited Certification Bodies – Chain of Custody and Forest Management audits. In addition to these audits, IKEA conducts multiple forest audits and wood supply chain audits every year.”

Environmentalists’ appeal to Ikea

«Despite the fact that the European Union presents itself as a model in the fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity, every day it tolerates crimes against nature on its territory – said Martina Borghi, responsible for the forestry campaign of Greenpeace Italy, commenting on the ‘investigation -. Europe’s old-growth forests are vital to the planet’s climate and should be effectively protected. Instead, for example, in the Carpathians an area of ​​forest equal to five football fields is destroyed every hour and it is estimated that in the last twenty years Romania has lost more than 50% of its old-growth forests due to deforestation”.

At the end of the investigation, Greenpeace asks Ikea “to take immediate measures to guarantee the total exclusion, from its supply chain, of wood coming from old-growth forests and other natural areas with high conservation value”. The environmental association also invites Ikea to support the implementation of European strategies for biodiversity, in particular “the achievement of the objective of protecting at least 10% of the territory of the European Union”.

Ikea’s response, as reported above, is full adherence to the rules on deforestation and respect for biodiversity.