Flatpack forest: Endlessly renewable particleboard, championed by IKEA, resists practices of care in favour of making and remaking the same rapidly obsolescent furniture.

  • Published In: Architectural Review, 2025, n. 9. P. 88 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Putalik, Erin 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines IKEA's approach to wood sourcing and the implications of using particleboard in furniture production. It highlights allegations from Greenpeace regarding IKEA's potential reliance on illegal logging in Romania's old-growth forests and discusses the company's commitment to sustainable forestry practices. The article also explores the rebranding of particleboard as a more ethical alternative to solid wood, emphasizing its recyclability and use of waste materials. However, it critiques the culture of planned obsolescence associated with particleboard furniture, suggesting that it undermines consumer engagement and care for products, ultimately contributing to significant furniture waste. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Architectural Review. 2025/09, Issue 9, p88
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Science
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0003-861X
  • Accession Number:187520903
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