Accusations of environmental wrongdoing, including chemical pollution and illegal deforestation, have surfaced against Artemobili Group, the primary furniture manufacturer for IKEA in Brazil. These allegations have drawn attention from the Brazilian judiciary, implicating the Swedish retail giant.
IKEA's global reach and popularity are undeniable, with identical furniture pieces sold under its Scandinavian brand name worldwide. Serving a staggering 860 million customers in 2023 alone, IKEA relies on a vast network of suppliers, responsible for producing 90% of its products. Despite emphasising values aligned with environmental sustainability, an investigation by Disclose, based on their documentary "Ikea, Lord of the Forests", exposes troubling revelations regarding IKEA's Brazilian partner.
Artemobili, tasked with supplying furniture for IKEA's markets in the U.S. and Europe, faces legal action for environmental offences dating back to 2018 and 2022. Despite these accusations, the Brazilian company has boldly threatened legal action against Disclose, should any mention of its business relationship with IKEA, its primary export client, be made public. This narrative sheds light on a situation both IKEA and its Brazilian supplier would prefer to remain hidden.
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Source: Disclose