Environmental groups warn that the U.S. recreational vehicle industry is fueling large-scale deforestation in Borneo by relying heavily on tropical wood for production. A joint investigation by Earthsight and Auriga Nusantara found that plywood made from rainforest trees, particularly “lauan,” is widely used in RV interiors and exteriors. Major manufacturers such as Jayco, Winnebago, and Forest River are implicated, with the wood traced back to Indonesia’s forests—home to endangered species like orangutans and clouded leopards. Conservationists say logging for these materials is destroying biodiversity and clearing land for industrial timber plantations.
Mighty Earth’s findings further reveal that forests equivalent in size to Los Angeles have already been cut down in West Kalimantan, forcing Indigenous Dayak communities from their land and decimating orangutan habitats. The supply chain connects companies such as PT Mayawana Persada, MJB Wood, and Tumac Lumber directly to U.S. RV brands including Thor Industries, Winnebago, and Forest River. Activists are calling on the RV sector to strengthen sustainability practices by adopting Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, improving supply chain traceability, and committing to transparent sourcing standards. More