After being embroiled in one of the biggest illegal tree-logging scandals, IKEA has also launched its new 2030 forest agenda to push for improved forest management and biodiversity globally. However, I argue or rather believe that this step was only taken to lessen the gravity of the illegal tree-logging controversy but to portray the company as one that genuinely cares for the environment (albeit a rather debatable one).

Effects on the Taigai

The Russian boreal forest, also known as the taigai, consists most of the world’s conifers and stores approximately half of the northern hemisphere’s carbon. It thus places an important role in regulating climate change (Mongabay, 2021).

Most of the illegal logging was uncovered by a loophole — where many trees were felled through a process known as ‘sanitary felling’. Loggers would claim that these trees were either dead or dying as an excuse to clear the land.

A report by Fatimah et al. (2019) on the impacts of illegal logging highlighted a few undesirable outcomes. Firstly, the lack of trees leads to a direct decrease in carbon sinks, which are essential in maintaining the natural carbon cycle in the atmosphere. Secondly, the lack of trees also leads to a loss of habitat for animals living in the taiga. Species are being threatened as tree count decreases.

Moving Forward: IKEA

As pledged by their 2030 forest agenda, IKEA intends to take the lead and make responsible forest management the norm across the world. As a key leader in the wood industry, they do indeed have the power to influence other companies in doing so.

IKEA will also continue to drive innovation and develop new ways of using wood smartly as they are mega users of wood, it is only fair that they devise ways that would encourage lower or more efficient usage of it. Do click here, if you are keen for a more in-depth review of IKEA’s 2030 plans.

My thoughts

After reviewing the many articles, it seems to me that IKEA champions and prides itself as a very clean brand. Upon knowledge of the scandal, they immediately dropped the company which was under fire for the illegal logging and claimed that its supply chain was clean. Yet, there was not really a very clear or transparent reporting done by them. Investigations by EarthSight also claimed that IKEA had likely been using illegally-obtained Russian wood in its children’s furniture for years.

In a whole, I feel that like many Singaporeans, we do not feel the pain or the suffering from this scandal as we are not directly impacted. Yet, as global citizens, it is perhaps time for us to think beyond our vicinity and think about how such Big Brands continuously embed themselves in our lives.

 

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