Nature Crime Files – Romania - Greenpeace International

Assemble the truth: Old-growth forest destruction in the Romanian Carpathians

When companies turn vibrant old-growth forests into fast furniture and governments allow this to happen, it is up to us to stop that violence against our basis of life.

As in many parts of the world, current protection of critical ecosystems on the European continent is completely inadequate to tackle the climate crisis and the collapse of biodiversity. Despite the EU’s self-proclaimed role in protecting nature, the destruction of our oldest forests continues to occur on a daily basis.

Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe exposes and publishes investigations from several countries to highlight these cases and remind us of the urgent need to stop the destruction of nature. This case shows how the unique and beautiful Carpathians forests in Romania are linked to fast furniture and how our European natural heritage may end up in our own homes.

The case of the Romanian investigation

Greenpeace CEE in Romania visited old-growth forests throughout Romania, where the average tree age was 120 to 180 years and found systematic destruction of old forests, including two Natura 2000 protected sites.
The investigation team from Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe followed the traces to the suppliers of furniture companies, such as the much-loved, widely celebrated European brand, IKEA.
By closely examining the entire supply chain, from logging sites to wood depots, including scrutinising transport permits with geolocation attributes, and visiting processing facilities Greenpeace CEE found old-growth or other high conservation value destruction linked to at least seven different IKEA suppliers in Romania.
Based on manufacturers’ websites, online articles and other publicly available information, IKEA is without doubt the biggest customer of most of the companies, whom the Greenpeace CEE investigation linked to the destruction of old-growth forests. According to the report one of the manufacturers, Plimob, produces virtually exclusively for IKEA. Investigations identified at least 30 IKEA products, and some of IKEA’s well-known furniture, originating from these producers, raising a concern that wood from old-growth forests could ultimately end up in homes all over Europe and beyond.
From one of the most iconic IKEA pieces of furniture, the beloved SNIGLAR crib and bed frame for children, INGOLF chairs, BEKVÄM step stool, KIVIK sofas to smaller household items like PROPPMÄTT cutting board – Greenpeace CEE visited IKEA stores across Europe between September 2023 and March 2024 and found products from manufacturers associated with wood sourced from old-growth forests in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

Download Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe’s full report:

Nature Crime Files – Romania

Appendix: Table of IKEA products from identified manufacturers by country

Learn more about the Carpathians at Greenpeace Poland