Why trees?
Trees and forests are a crucial part of the Earth's ecosystem. They are green machines that clean our air and water by absorbing pollutants and stabilizing soils.

What is the IKEA interest in trees?
IKEA is the world's largest home furnishings retailer. Wood is a raw material used in many of our products. IKEA, for many years, has been involved in business practices that minimize our impact to the environment. IKEA is proud of our environmental progress toward sourcing all wood from well managed forests.

What is our goal?
IKEA US has a goal in our stores to reduce the CO2 impact of our business operations. One of the ways will be to plant trees each year to help offset the CO2 impact of travel to and from our stores. American Forests has estimated that approximately 30,000 trees planted each year will offset the annual travel to and from the average IKEA store.

Who is American Forests?
American Forests is the nation's oldest (501C3) non-profit conservation organization, founded in 1875. They are a world leader in tree planting for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests.

Where does American Forests plant IKEA trees?
American Forests has planted over 20 million new trees in environmental restoration projects throughout North America and in many foreign lands. Your IKEA trees will be planted in current US projects that are helping alleviate many significant environmental problems from wildfire restoration, riparian tree planting to stabilize river banks to rebuilding wildlife habitat for birds and animals.

Will there be trees planted in my community?
IKEA and American Forests will be planting Living Classrooms with schools in many communities served by IKEA stores. Living Classrooms help provide community tree planting opportunities for students.

How do trees clean the air?
During photosynthesis, a tree "inhales" carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air then separates the carbon from the oxygen molecules. The carbon is absorbed by the tree and stored in its wood and roots and then the tree "exhales" pure oxygen back into the air for us to breathe. This process, called sequestration is how forests have always helped regulate the earth's atmospheric balance. Trees act as natural filters.

How do trees cool the globe?
Air pollution is a global problem that has local solutions. Burning fossil fuel adds pollutants including greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a by-product of burning fossil fuels. A substantial amount of atmospheric CO2 comes from automobile emissions. Carbon dioxide is one of the most powerful of the greenhouse gases and is the principle contributor to increased global warming. Trees absorb the CO2, store the carbon in their wood, roots and leaves then release the oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Where can I learn more about tree planting and its effect on global climate change?
Go to americanforests.org and click on 'Personal Climate Change' under Resources.

What can I do?
Plant trees on your property and in your community. Visit americanforests.org and consider becoming a member of American Forests.