FSC digs heels in as pressure builds for it to act on Ikea illegal timber scandal
One month ago, Earthsight released the findings of an 18-month long investigation into the illegal timber being used in Ikea products. The report rocked the industry and made headlines. But while Ikea and the Ukrainian government have promised to act, FSC, the green label whose failure lies at the heart of the scandal, has its head still firmly buried in the sand.
23rd July 2020
One month ago, Earthsight released the findings of an 18-month long investigation into the illegal timber being used in Ikea products. The report rocked the industry and made headlines. But while Ikea and the Ukrainian government have promised to act, FSC, the green label whose failure lies at the heart of the scandal, has its head still firmly buried in the sand.
Flatpacked Forests: Ikea's illegal timber problem and the flawed green label behind it revealed that illegal wood from the precious Ukrainian Carpathian forests was being used to make tens of thousands of popular Ikea chairs. The wood had been rubber-stamped by the Forest Stewardship Council, the world’s leading green wood label, which is supposed to guarantee timber is ethically sourced.
FSC’s published response does not welcome the findings or promise to investigate them. Here, we counter their misleading responses to our report and reiterate calls for proper reform within the global timber sustainability label.
FSC’s published response does not welcome the findings or promise to investigate them. It does not recognise their seriousness. Instead, the 19-page document, which takes the form of an ‘FAQ’, is deeply misleading and in some cases factually incorrect. Earthsight has now published a point-by-point response. Highlights include:
