Drivers traveling through northern Indiana are seeing a new message aimed directly at the RV industry.
Environmental advocacy organization Mighty Earth recently installed six billboards across Elkhart and St. Joseph counties criticizing RV manufacturers for using tropical hardwood products that the group says may be tied to rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia.
The billboards feature an RV driving through rainforest imagery alongside the phrase: “RVs Shouldn’t Kill Orangutans.”
The campaign focuses on meranti plywood, a lightweight tropical hardwood product widely used in RV construction.
Why This Material Is Being Targeted
Meranti plywood has been a common building material in RVs for decades. Manufacturers typically laminate thin sheets of wood between fiberglass and insulation to create wall, roof, and floor panels.
Within the industry, the material is often called luan or lauan. It has remained popular because it offers a combination of light weight and structural strength while keeping manufacturing costs relatively low.
Environmental groups say some meranti sourced from Indonesia has been connected to logging operations that contribute to rainforest loss. Those forests are home to endangered species, including orangutans.
Investigations over the past year by non-governmental organizations and international media outlets have examined supply chains linking Indonesian timber to plywood products imported into the United States.
Companies Named in the Campaign
The billboard campaign calls out several major companies involved in RV manufacturing or supply, including:
- Thor Industries
- Forest River
- Winnebago Industries
- Patrick Industries
Northern Indiana was chosen for the campaign because the region is widely known as the center of RV manufacturing in the United States. Industry estimates indicate that roughly 85 percent of RVs sold in the U.S. are built in Elkhart County.
Billboards were placed at several high-visibility locations in the area, including along U.S. 20, U.S. 33, and near the Indiana Toll Road.
What the Advocacy Group Is Saying
In a social media post announcing the campaign, Mighty Earth said investigations conducted with the nonprofit Earthsight linked plywood used in RV manufacturing to deforestation in Indonesia.
The group said its research suggests that supply chains serving major RV manufacturers, including Thor Industries, Forest River, and Winnebago Industries, may be connected to timber harvested from areas where rainforest and orangutan habitat have been cleared.
In the post, the organization said RV enthusiasts “deserve better than vehicles made with wood from destroyed forests and orangutan habitat,” adding that its campaign is intended to push the Indiana-based RV industry toward stronger wood sourcing standards designed to reduce deforestation risk.
What Manufacturers Are Saying
At the time the campaign launched, several companies had not publicly responded to questions about the billboards.
Winnebago Industries did provide a statement addressing the broader topic of wood sourcing. A company spokesperson said the manufacturer recognizes the importance of responsible sourcing and is currently working with suppliers to evaluate options such as certified meranti products.
The company also said it is examining potential alternatives, including composite materials that could replace certain wood components in RV construction.
One certification system often referenced in discussions about sustainable wood sourcing is run by the Forest Stewardship Council, which sets standards intended to track wood products through supply chains.
Could This Affect RV Buyers?
At the moment, the billboard campaign is primarily aimed at raising awareness rather than forcing immediate industry changes.
However, if manufacturers move toward certified wood supplies or begin replacing meranti with different materials, it could lead to adjustments in supply chains and production costs.
Whether those changes would noticeably affect RV prices is still unclear.
For now, the billboards represent the latest chapter in an ongoing discussion about how materials used in RV construction are sourced and how global supply chains intersect with environmental concerns.
About the Investigation
Earthsight is a London-based nonprofit that conducts investigations into environmental crimes and supply chains linked to deforestation and illegal logging. The group has published multiple reports examining how tropical timber moves from logging operations to international markets.
According to Mighty Earth, findings from investigations conducted with Earthsight helped spark the current campaign aimed at RV manufacturers.
The companies named in the campaign have not confirmed those allegations. Global timber supply chains can involve numerous intermediaries between logging operations and finished products, which can make tracing materials difficult.
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