IKEA Expands Its Green Strategy with Atlantic Forest Restoration

IKEA has launched a new forest-based carbon removal initiative in Brazil, marking the first major project under its global programme to scale nature-based solutions. The effort forms part of the company’s $108 million pledge to support long-duration carbon sequestration and strengthen its long-term decarbonisation pathway.

Workers planting trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, with pine plantations in the background. AI generatde picture.

At the heart of this project is the restoration of 4,000 hectares of degraded land within the iconic Atlantic Forest biome—one of Brazil’s most threatened ecosystems. The work spans the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, where teams will combine reforestation, conservation measures, and sustainably managed commercial forestry to demonstrate how environmental recovery can align with responsible land use.

The Atlantic Forest once stretched across more than 1.3 million square kilometres. Today, only a fraction of that—around 13%—remains intact. By replanting native areas and converting former pastureland into productive pine stands certified under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, the initiative aims to support both ecological restoration and local economic activity.

These managed pine plantations are expected to generate employment and provide a steady supply of raw materials, creating revenue streams that can be reinvested in ongoing conservation work. At the same time, the project will remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in biomass and soil. To ensure credibility, all environmental and ecosystem impacts will be independently verified.

Project governance will be supported by an external advisory panel of specialists from both Brazilian and international NGOs, including Apremavi—a leading organisation focused on the protection and recovery of the Atlantic Rainforest. This group will help monitor biodiversity indicators, oversee scientific partnerships, and evaluate how the project engages and benefits neighbouring communities.

The initiative contributes directly to IKEA’s long-term sustainability commitments. The company aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half across its value chain by 2030, using 2016 as a benchmark. By 2050, IKEA intends to reach net-zero emissions, supported by deep reductions in operational footprints and expanded investment in natural carbon sinks and responsibly sourced materials.