Ikea supply chain deforestation allegations

Greenpeace Nordic has accused the furniture retailer Ikea of sourcing wood from highly biodiverse, old-growth continuity forests in northern Sweden. Using electronic log tracers, investigators reportedly linked timber from clear-cut areas to sawmills operated by SCA and Munksund, which supply manufacturers for Ikea products such as the Ivar and Hejne shelving units.

Greenpeace stated that the destruction of these ecologically vital ecosystems impacts biodiversity and the livelihoods of the indigenous Sami population. The organization has held protests at Ikea’s global headquarters in Älmhult, calling for stricter supplier guidelines to protect irreplaceable forests.

In response, Ikea stated that its logging practices comply with all applicable laws and the company’s own environmental certifications. Ikea’s raw material manager, Ulf Johansson, noted that the company must balance environmental, social, and economic interests, arguing that classification as a continuity forest does not inherently mean the land is legally protected.