Home / Environment / Deforestation Scandal Rocks EU Timber Trade: Indonesian Exports Linked to Borneo Logging
Deforestation Scandal Rocks EU Timber Trade: Indonesian Exports Linked to Borneo Logging
21 Oct
Summary
- EU timber imports traced to illegal logging in Indonesia's Borneo
- NGOs call for EU to stop delaying anti-deforestation legislation
- European companies named as buyers of deforested wood products
According to a report published on 2025-10-21, timber imports by companies operating in the European Union can be traced to logging activities on Indonesia's Borneo island. The report, produced by NGOs Earthsight and Auriga Nusantara, has prompted calls for the EU to stop delaying the implementation of its European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR, which was set to ban imports of products driving deforestation from the end of 2025, has faced a one-year postponement by the European Commission. The NGOs argue that the report demonstrates the urgent need for the EUDR to ensure transparency in the timber supply chain and stop the flow of deforestation-linked wood into Europe.
The report names several European companies, including firms based in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, that have placed orders for over 23,000 cubic meters of wood products from Indonesian suppliers with ties to deforestation in Borneo. The island is home to some of the world's largest remaining rainforests and hosts a diverse array of endangered species.
Environmental groups have reacted angrily to the prospect of further delays to the EUDR, which they see as a crucial step in addressing the EU's role in global deforestation. The European Commission has cited a lack of readiness in the logistical infrastructure as the reason for the postponement.
