US RV Demand Driving Deforestation on Indonesia’s Borneo, Warn NGOs

The rising demand for tropical wood from some of America’s largest recreational vehicle (RV) brands is contributing to widespread deforestation on the Indonesian island of Borneo, home to Asia’s last great rainforest, according to a new investigation by environmental NGOs.

The study, conducted jointly by UK-based Earthsight and Indonesian NGO Auriga Nusantara, revealed that the RV industry has become the largest consumer of tropical wood in the United States. The report was published late Tuesday.

Investigators said that sheets of tropical “lauan” plywood sourced from Indonesia were likely being used in the floors, walls, and ceilings of RVs produced by major manufacturers including Jayco, Winnebago, and Forest River.

“Nature-loving RV owners will be horrified to learn that their hobby risks destroying rainforests,” said Sam Lawson, director of Earthsight.

“America’s RV giants need to get out of the 1980s and implement the kinds of minimum sustainability standards other US corporates have had in place for decades.”

Indonesia is reported to have one of the highest rates of deforestation worldwide, driven by logging, mining, and agricultural expansion, often with minimal oversight of forestry operations in Borneo.

Borneo contains one of the world’s largest remaining rainforests and is home to an array of unique wildlife, including:

The NGOs highlighted that large areas of orangutan habitat have been cleared to make way for plantations of fast-growing timber species, contributing to the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

The investigation identified an Indonesian plywood company, PT Kayu Lapis Asli Murni, as a key source of tropical timber.

• Around 50% of timber harvested from rainforest areas visited by the NGOs was exported to US companies MJB Wood and Tumac Lumber in 2024.
• MJB Wood is the main supplier of lauan plywood to Jayco.
• Tumac Lumber supplies materials to RV parts manufacturers such as Patrick Industries, whose clients include Thor Industries, Forest River, and Winnebago.

The NGOs concluded that it is “almost certain” that tropical Indonesian wood is entering the US RV supply chain.

According to the report, none of the companies mentioned responded to requests for comment from the investigators. Likewise, neither the companies nor the Indonesian environment ministry immediately responded to an AFP request for comment.

This investigation highlights the environmental cost of recreational vehicle production in the United States and raises urgent questions about sustainable sourcing and corporate responsibility.