Wood – a material with many qualities
Wood is the material most commonly associated with IKEA furniture, and for good reasons. We love working with wood not only because it’s part of our Scandinavian design heritage – wood is an excellent material from a design, quality and environmental perspective, provided that it comes from responsibly managed forests. Wood is also durable, renewable, recyclable – and beautiful.
Only more sustainable wood
Because wood is so important to IKEA, we work together with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to take care of the world’s forests through responsible forest management, making sure we have forests for all, forever. By the end of 2020, we aim for all our wood to come from more sustainable sources which includes FSC certified and recycled wood. Today we have reached more than 91% of our goal.
Since 2017, 100% of the wood we source from countries with a history of challenges related to forest management, comes from more sustainable sources.
We’re promoting responsible forestry methods. We do this to influence the industry and also to contribute to the important work of ending deforestation."
– Mikhail Tarasov, Global Forestry Manager, IKEA of Sweden
Combining wood types
Oak is a strong hardwood that darkens beautifully with age. MÖRBYLÅNGA table top has a three-millimeter top layer of solid oak applied on particleboard – a resource-efficient way of using different wood materials in the same piece of furniture. The durable solid oak top layer makes every table unique, each with its own grain pattern and natural color variations.
Durable wood furniture for your garden
Acacia is a durable and rot-resistant wood that works great for outdoor furniture, like our ÄPPLARÖ series. All acacia we use comes from FSC certified plantations. Together with our suppliers, smallholder farmers and partners like WWF, IKEA ensures that acacia is grown in a way that is better for the environment and the local communities.
Did you know?
- IKEA sources wood from over 50 different countries
- Poland, Russia and Sweden are our top three sourcing countries
- The most common IKEA wood types are pine, birch, beech and acacia
Using wood wisely
Making more from less is part of the IKEA culture, and we always use resources efficiently. Regarding wood, every piece is cut and shaped so that waste is minimized in production while maintaining quality and durability. We constantly look for new and smarter ways to design and build our furniture to make sure our customers get the best possible product with the least impact on our planet.
On our website about.ikea.com you can find more information about how IKEA works with wood globally.
Responsible wood sourcing – working together with FSC
We put responsible forest management at the core of our business. This means working to eliminate forest degradation and deforestation and to promote the importance of forest management beyond our own wood material needs. This is what we call being forest positive.
Forests house over two-thirds of known terrestrial species, and are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. The FSC certification includes the social and economic well-being of workers and local communities who depend on the forest, as well as environmental and economic matters and decision making, in addition to covering logging practices.
Working together with WWF for responsibly managed forests
We also work with WWF and other partners to combat illegal logging and promote responsible and transparent timber trade. Beginning with five forest projects in seven countries in 2002, today, we collaborate in 15 countries on a variety of projects. The aim is to support credible forest certification that benefits both people and the environment.
Read more about how IKEA and WWF together are contributing to responsible forest management
