IKEA: Stop destroying Russia’s remaining ancient forests

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Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on July 12, 2012 at 6:16pm

Joan,

I was all prepared to be mad at IKEA, but with this article, I'm confused.  "average age of the trees that its harvests in Karelia is 160 years" which seems old, but really seems like re-growth.  I don't know how old the forests are in that region.   This article gives a more damning slant, "Swedwood was clear-cutting virgin trees 200 to 600 years old and in areas of “high conservation value."   This article is even more damning.

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Actually, the more I read, I am starting to get mad at IKEA.  We really don't need cheaply built boxy shoddy furniture made from raping virgin forest.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on July 12, 2012 at 7:57pm

Oh dear, my ignorance keeps catching up with me. I don't own, nor have I seen IKEA furniture, but I really like their advertisements. Guess I am just another gullible P.R. consumer. And since I don't buy furniture, or haven't for more than 50 years, I am not current on quality pieces. Yes, the claims don't fit their reality (surprise!) 

"In Karelia, harvesters overturn the centuries-old trees within seconds. 800 trees per day are logged, debranched and stacked for transport to the furniture factory. The six foot high tyres plough through the soft marshy ground. It will take decades to recover. Day-to-day IKEA is logging more species-rich primeval forest. Barren and dreary clear-cut stretches are taking over."

Stop IKEA logging old-growth forests in Russia

S.B. I do appreciate your input and further evidence of unacceptable practices. Thanks. 

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on July 13, 2012 at 12:18am

Thanks for the link Sentient! Joan I didn't know they were clear cutting forests for their furniture. That's terrible.

Permalink Reply by Chris Breman on July 13, 2012 at 1:26am

AAaargh! I just finished putting together two IKEA bookcases! And I signed the petition, of course.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on July 13, 2012 at 1:34am

Chris, how is the quality of their bookcases? Are they a cheap or expensive brand? Jeeze! Who can we trust if we can't trust advertisers! (gullible, aren't I!)

Permalink Reply by Chris Breman on July 13, 2012 at 4:28am

Not too bad, rather good for low budget bookcases. Ikea products are cheap, easy to mix with all sorts of furniture and give rather good value for little money. We have got quite a lot of it. We came here six years ago with very few sticks of furniture because we had always made most ourselves; desks, beds and bookcases. We sold it all together with our old apartment.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on July 13, 2012 at 8:27am

Well, good quality at low price provides good motives for using a brand. Finding there is a cost to the planet for such products presents daunting challenges. One by one, our favorite brands wither under scrutiny.  

Interesting that you made most of your own furniture ... sounds hauntingly familiar of our family. All those hand made pieces have been lost to me ... I didn't realize their value until too late.