Ikea’s green credentials have been called into question, after new footage showed vast swathes of forests owned by the company reduced to ‘moonscapes.’
The flatpack furniture maker has made bold claims of its aspirations to ‘transform’ the forestry industry. From establishing biodiversity parks in India to grilling the Polish government about pulling out of a global sustainability convention, Ikea has been keen to boast of its positive impact on the world.
But footage published by Danmarks Radio, a Danish public broadcaster, shows large tracts of land across Romania owned by the corporation desecrated by human intervention.
Huge scars caused by large machine tracks can be seen carved into the five locations owned by Ikea, while freshly felled trees were seen at each site with little to no vegetation growing in its place.
‘It is completely beyond the pale of what is called sustainable forestry in 2024,’ Jacob Heilmann-Clausen, a biodiversity expert at Copenhagen University, told the makers of Ikea Loves Wood, a documentary investigating the company’s alleged practices.
One of the key issues raised in the documentary was the alleged practice of chopping down entire parts of a forest.
This either left no ‘habitat trees’ standing for wildlife to live in, or would just about comply with Romanian law that states that a single tree per hectare needs to be left alone.
‘It looks like the old-fashioned forestry in third-world countries, where you ruthlessly go in and extract a resource,’ Heilmann-Clausen said.
Footage published by Danmarks Radio, a Danish public broadcaster, shows large tracts of land across Romania owned by the corporation desecrated by human intervention
Huge scars caused by large machine tracks can be seen carved into the five locations owned by Ikea
Freshly felled trees were seen at each site with little to no vegetation growing in its place
Ingka, which operates the forests on Ikea’s behalf, told MailOnline in a statement that it denied cutting down trees en masse, adding that not only was it replanting felled trees but it was also adding to existing tree populations.
It also said it was leaving habitat trees standing on a ‘landscape level, instead of a hectare-by-hectare basis.
The group claimed the documentary was based on ‘selective narratives’ and had left out ‘critical facts’.
It added that 18 independent audits this year had confirmed it was in compliance with Romanian law.
‘The density of our forests in Romania has increased by more than 1 million cubic metres since 2016 due to our responsible forest management practices in the country,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Our forests in Romania are among the most rigorously audited in the country.’
‘The claim of “moonscapes” based on selective drone footage misrepresents the situation on the ground. Take Tibau as an example: the clearcuts seen in this area were carried out by the previous owner, not Ingka Investments/IKEA.
‘Since acquiring the land (2015), we have restored its ecological functionality by planting over 60 hectares, ensuring long-term forest health and biodiversity.
‘We remain deeply committed to our mission to protect biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and drive responsible forestry practices globally.’
Around four percent of the wood used in Ikea’s products comes from Romania, which is home to some of the last-standing remnants of Europe’s ancient forests.
‘It looks like the old-fashioned forestry in third-world countries, where you ruthlessly go in and extract a resource,’ one biodiversity expert said
A view of an Ikea sign next to the entrance of one of its branches in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 2, 2023
Ikea is estimated to own around 125,000 acres of woodland across the country.
Despite the audits, several investigations by environmental groups have, in recent months, linked Ikea to ‘destructive forestry practices’ in Romania, both on its own land and in forests managed by its suppliers.
One investigation suggested that some of the firm’s local partners in the country were clearing ancient woodlands in the Carpathian mountains, in a moved described as ‘potentially illegal.’
Greenpeace, the environmental activism group, said it has traced at least 30 Ikea products from these suppliers to stores in 14 countries, including the UK.
