199. Mighty Earth Uncovers the RV Industry's Destructive Secret with Amanda Hurowitz
Outdoor Minimalist29 Syys 2025

199. Mighty Earth Uncovers the RV Industry's Destructive Secret with Amanda Hurowitz

When most people think about recreational vehicles– you know, RVs, campers, they picture freedom — the open road, family vacations, maybe even a way of life.

What probably doesn’t come to mind is deforestation in Borneo.

Yet half of all tropical plywood harvested globally ends up in RVs.

In episode 199 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we dig into how the RV industry in the United States has become a major driver of rainforest destruction, threatening orangutan habitat, draining peatlands, and displacing Indigenous Dayak communities.

Our guest, Amanda Hurowitz, Senior Director at Mighty Earth, walks us through her team’s investigation into how one specific type of plywood from Indonesia makes its way into American RVs and why it has been an industry secret for so long.

Amanda Hurowitz leads Mighty Earth’s Forest Commodities team, overseeing campaigns to protect forests and communities across Asia and Africa. She’s helped drive transformative shifts in industries from cocoa to palm oil, and today she’s working to bring the same pressure and solutions to the RV industry.

Mighty Earth is a global advocacy organization working to defend a living planet and secure a climate where life can flourish. You can learn more about their work at mightyearth.org

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist

Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/outdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠

Listener Survey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----------------

Mighty Earth Investigation

Website: https://stories.mightyearth.org/mayawana-persada/

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/world/asia/indonesia-borneo-deforestation-rv.html

Amanda Email: amanda@mightyearth.org

Jaksot(282)

Public Land Sales Back on the Table? - Public Lands News (March 31 - April 4)

Public Land Sales Back on the Table? - Public Lands News (March 31 - April 4)

Welcome to the first edition of our weekly public lands update, where we break down the most important news and policy changes affecting public lands. Topics Covered This Week:Public Land Sales Back o...

4 Huhti 20259min

175. Why Made in the USA Matters with Mallory Ottariano

175. Why Made in the USA Matters with Mallory Ottariano

Since the time of this interview, Youer, and other small businesses like them, have gone under major changes due to rising costsSome of these changes for Youer include:1. They stopped making things in...

31 Maalis 202530min

174. Carbon Neutral to Change Climate with Austin Whitman

174. Carbon Neutral to Change Climate with Austin Whitman

If you remember, in one of our earliest episodes, episode 23, I spoke with Austin Whitman, to unpack the meaning behind carbon-neutral certifications and what they really mean for consumers, companies...

24 Maalis 202531min

173. Public Lands Under Attack: What’s Happening and What You Can Do

173. Public Lands Under Attack: What’s Happening and What You Can Do

In this episode, we discuss the ongoing threats to our public lands and the attacks on US environmental protections under the current administration. From the push for fossil fuel extraction to rollba...

17 Maalis 202534min

172. 37.5 Technology’s Science of Sustainable Textiles with Blair Kanis

172. 37.5 Technology’s Science of Sustainable Textiles with Blair Kanis

Sustainability in the outdoor industry has come a long way, but the challenges of waste, microplastic pollution, and textile biodegradability remain an issue many brands struggle to address. That’s wh...

10 Maalis 202525min

171. Peak Design's Employee-Owned Approach to Sustainability with Peter Dering

171. Peak Design's Employee-Owned Approach to Sustainability with Peter Dering

If you’re into outdoor adventure, photography, or just well-designed gear, chances are you’ve heard of Peak Design. In episode 171 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, Meg is joined by Peter Dering, CEO...

3 Maalis 202533min

170. A Journalist's Guide to Telling Conservation Stories with Sage Marshall

170. A Journalist's Guide to Telling Conservation Stories with Sage Marshall

In the outdoor and environmental space, conservation is at the heart of so many discussions, but how those stories are told can make a difference. Whether it’s connecting policy to personal experience...

24 Helmi 202522min

169. The Outdoor Industry Made Too Much Stuff. Now What? with Megan Davin

169. The Outdoor Industry Made Too Much Stuff. Now What? with Megan Davin

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for outdoor gear skyrocketed, leading brands to ramp up production. But as the dust settled, it became clear that the industry had overestimated long-term cons...

17 Helmi 202528min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-asiastudio
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
otetaan-yhdet
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
rss-sinivalkoinen-islam
the-ulkopolitist
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
aihe
rss-50100-podcast
rss-girls-finish-f1rst