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Tropical Plywood

Indonesia is now the world’s largest producer of tropical plywood, with about 90% of the global trade. The Philippines is over 80% deforested, as is Thailand, thanks to tropical plywood production begun as far back as the 1930s. Areas of Borneo and Malaysia that promote logging are over 50% logged out.

Known by its generic name “lauan” or “meranti”, tropical plywood from Southeast Asia has almost completely replaced domestic produced plywood today.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) says Indonesia’s annual log harvest is three times the sustainable yield. At the same time, the capacity of unlicensed sawmills is double that of legal operations. The Indonesian government says it’s an uphill battle combating widespread illegal logging because many countries around the world—including the United States, Britain and Canada-continue to buy Indonesia’s low-cost lumber.

Many illegal logging operations target national parks, using violence and intimidation to stop anyone who gets in their way. This problem is aggravated by a lack of law enforcement combined with the complicity of corrupt officials.

Tropical plywood is used for many of things, the biggest being the wood facing on the interior of doors. You will find these in many home improvement centers and most lumberyards.

Another major use of this plywood is for the creation of Hollywood sets, as well as those for Broadway theaters. Furniture makers use tropical plywood for backings on dressers, dresser drawers and shelf units. It’s also used frequently in construction for sub-flooring and sub-roofing, and in general construction projects where small pieces of plywood are needed.

There are no sustainable tropical plywood projects. Please consider alternate products or only those products labeled with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) stamp. Ask your local lumber suppliers if they carry goods approved by the FSC and try to shop only at these outlets

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