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)

131. Navigating Postpartum Motherhood with the Help of Nature with Madelaine Anderson

131. Navigating Postpartum Motherhood with the Help of Nature with Madelaine Anderson

In episode 131, we dive even deeper into how becoming a mother can influence the importance of nature in our lives. More specifically, my guest, Madelaine Anderson, shares her journey of navigating p...

29 Huhti 202443min

FOREVER CHEMICALS: PFAS as a Cautionary Tale

FOREVER CHEMICALS: PFAS as a Cautionary Tale

Throughout this series, we’ve learned not only about how harmful PFAS is as a class of chemicals but also what the outdoor industry is doing to address the issue. While we may have started too late, w...

24 Huhti 202430min

130. Harvesting Nature: Culinary Conservation and Ethical Hunting with Justin Townsend

130. Harvesting Nature: Culinary Conservation and Ethical Hunting with Justin Townsend

In episode 130 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we introduce the idea of Culinary Conservation. Forewarning: if you haven’t eaten or are hungry now, you’ll be starving by the end of this episode.  I...

22 Huhti 202424min

Recreate Responsibly this Earth Day by Following the Leave No Trace 7 Principles

Recreate Responsibly this Earth Day by Following the Leave No Trace 7 Principles

Celebrate this Earth Day by getting outside and following the Leave No Trace seven principles.  Earth Day  is the perfect opportunity to enjoy our planet’s beauty, while considering how to preserve it...

20 Huhti 202417min

FOREVER CHEMICALS: Are PFAS-Free Products Possible?

FOREVER CHEMICALS: Are PFAS-Free Products Possible?

It seems that many brands are moving in the right direction in terms of phasing PFAS out of their products, but one of the many aspects complicating this process is the potential for contamination. I...

17 Huhti 202433min

129. Are Compostable Plastics Greenwashing? with Brandon Leeds

129. Are Compostable Plastics Greenwashing? with Brandon Leeds

In episode 129 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we return to a highly requested topic area on the show: product packaging.  By now, we all know that plastic is a problem, but what are the alternativ...

15 Huhti 202418min

FOREVER CHEMICALS: Phasing Out PFAS in US Apparel

FOREVER CHEMICALS: Phasing Out PFAS in US Apparel

As we learned in earlier episodes, phase-out and regulatory efforts for PFAS were not swift, and they certainly are not complete. However, because of the recent regulatory changes on consumer goods, ...

10 Huhti 202435min

128. An Inside Look at Sawyer's Clean Water Projects with Katie "Oats" Houston

128. An Inside Look at Sawyer's Clean Water Projects with Katie "Oats" Houston

In episode 128 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I chatted with Katie Houston about Sawyer's clean water projects. Sawyer is a pioneering water filtration company with a rich history spanning over t...

8 Huhti 202426min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

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