Inter IKEA Group has taken a significant step in advancing its long-term carbon removal strategy by initiating its first large-scale nature-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project. Developed as part of the company’s global $108 million commitment to high-quality, long-duration carbon sequestration, the initiative centres on forest restoration and sustainable land management designed to capture and store carbon effectively over time.
Reforestation scene in Brazil - workers planting trees in the Atlantic Forest with pine plantations in the background. AI generated picture.
The initiative focuses on the restoration and sustainable management of 4,000 hectares of degraded land within Brazil’s Atlantic Forest biome. Spanning the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, the project blends conservation, ecological restoration, and commercial forestry to illustrate how reforestation can coexist with responsible land-use practices.
Once a vast ecosystem spanning more than 1.3 million square kilometres, the Atlantic Forest has been reduced to approximately 13% of its original size. The partnership aims to help reverse this decline by rehabilitating former pastureland and managing selected areas as productive pine plantations. These commercial parcels will adhere to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards, ensuring sustainable production while supporting the surrounding economy.
The pine operations are expected to create local jobs and provide raw materials, generating revenues that can be reinvested into conservation and restoration activities. Beyond these socio-economic benefits, the project will deliver measurable carbon removal by storing CO₂ in both soil and biomass. Independent verification will be used to monitor progress and confirm the environmental and ecosystem outcomes, adding a layer of transparency to the reporting process.
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Oversight will also come from an independent advisory panel featuring specialists from local and international NGOs, including Apremavi, one of Brazil’s leading environmental organisations working in the Atlantic Rainforest. The panel will assess ecological indicators, scientific collaboration opportunities, and the social impact of the initiative on nearby communities.
For IKEA, the project supports its broader environmental agenda. The company has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 50% by 2030, using 2016 as the baseline year. Looking ahead to 2050, IKEA aims to reach net-zero emissions, combining deep operational reductions with the expansion of natural carbon sinks and increased use of sustainably sourced materials.
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As major global brands expand their environmental strategies and experiment with advanced carbon removal solutions, one principle is becoming increasingly clear: long-term progress relies on high-quality data, transparent methodologies, and nature-based interventions that complement internal decarbonisation. Projects like IKEA’s new forest-based CDR initiative highlight how restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and verified carbon storage can work together to address residual emissions that remain difficult to eliminate. At Green Earth, we develop large-scale restoration programmes built on these same principles—science-driven design, measurable ecological impact, and carbon units that integrate seamlessly into robust net-zero roadmaps. For organisations seeking credible ways to neutralise unavoidable emissions while contributing to thriving ecosystems, our nature-based solutions provide a practical, reliable, and future-proof path forward—and an ideal moment to take the next step with Green Earth.
