IKEA pairs plot-level wood traceability with 16,000-hectare forestry pilot

On September 29, Reuters reported that IKEA, which processed 14.7 million cubic metres of round wood last year, was piloting climate-smart forestry across 16,000 hectares in Latvia while expanding forensic checks of wood species and origin. IKEA said its procurement controls trace wood to source and that processes needed for the EU Deforestation Regulation are largely in place, but Greenpeace argued that origin verification alone may not exclude wood from high-biodiversity forests that lack formal protection; IKEA denied sourcing from protected Romanian forests. The dispute illustrates a gap between legal traceability, certification and the broader biodiversity expectations that customers and NGOs may apply. Companies and advisers should test whether supplier representations answer only “where did this material come from?” or also establish whether sourcing complies with protected-area, ecosystem and sanctions controls.