Swedish furniture maker IKEA has had its FSC certification revoked by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international non-profit organization, after it was revealed that the company felled 600-year-old trees in protected forests in Russia to make furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An investigation by the FSC revealed that IKEA subsidiary Swedwood had logging contracts covering 700,000 acres of the Karelia Conservation Forest, one of Europe's largest forests located on the border between Russia and Finland. However, the logging was required to avoid old-growth areas and hillside forests. The investigation found that Swedwood was not only logging critically endangered species but also using protected old trees to make furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An IKEA spokesperson confirmed that the company's FSC certification for its Karelia protected forest has been temporarily revoked. The violation stemmed from deficiencies in forestry facilities and equipment, forest management systems, and employee training. The company will address these shortcomings and is committed to restoring its FSC certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An IKEA spokesperson also pointed out that this incident further confirms the normal regulatory operation of the FSC mechanism and its necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n