BRUSSELS: EU consumption was responsible for the loss of 149 million trees worldwide between 2021 and 2023, according to new research commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The study assesses the impact of EU demand for major commodities — including soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, leather, rubber, and industrial roundwood — and concludes that the bloc’s consumption caused the loss of around 50 million trees each year, or 100 trees every minute.
WWF says the findings underline the need for full and timely implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and warns against any weakening or delay.
According to the report, chocolate consumption alone drives the loss of more than 10 million trees annually within the EU. Beef and leather products account for another 10 million trees a year, while EU palm oil use is linked to more than 6 million trees lost.
Soy imports — mostly for animal feed used in fish, cheese, and egg production — result in the loss of around 6.4 million trees annually. Coffee consumption is responsible for more than 3 million trees lost.
Germany Has Largest Footprint
The data measures the “final consumption footprint” of each EU member state after trade flows and supply-chain transformations are taken into account.
Germany is linked to the highest annual loss at 13 million trees, followed by Spain (6.5 million) and France (6.3 million).
On a per-capita basis, the Netherlands ranks highest, with 272 trees lost per 1,000 residents each year, ahead of Luxembourg (226) and Finland (177).
WWF also evaluated the carbon impact of delaying enforcement of the EUDR, based on typical import volumes of regulated commodities.
Across the EU, a one-year postponement could generate 16.8 million tons of imported emissions — comparable to every London resident flying to New York three times in a year.
The report estimates that full enforcement of the EUDR could prevent 387 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 — roughly equivalent to shutting down eight large coal-fired power plants permanently.
WWF warns that without swift action, import trends could push emissions even higher, adding up to 17.4 million tons of CO₂ equivalent.
