A recent investigation has revealed that Cambodian companies producing engineered hardwood flooring for the U.S. market are sourcing timber from Angkor Plywood, a cartel accused of illegal logging in protected areas. Angkor Plywood serves as the sole supplier to flooring manufacturers in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, raising concerns about the legality of the timber used in U.S. flooring products [c2c24f49].
Nature Flooring, a subsidiary of China's Nature Home Group, established in May 2019, is among those utilizing plywood sourced from Angkor Plywood. Additionally, Think Biotech, led by Lu Chu Chang, has been implicated in illegal logging activities within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, an area that has seen significant deforestation, losing 102,000 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023 [c2c24f49].
Angkor Plywood, founded in 2011 by Chea Pov, has been linked to timber trafficking and operates under allegations of corruption and bribery. U.S. consumers purchasing flooring products may unknowingly be buying wood sourced from illegally logged forests, as major U.S. wood flooring manufacturer AHF Products sources from Fine Flooring, which in turn uses Angkor Plywood's products [c2c24f49].
The implications of this supply chain extend beyond legality, as they highlight the environmental consequences of illegal logging in Cambodia. The ongoing deforestation not only threatens biodiversity but also undermines efforts toward sustainability in the timber industry. As the U.S. market continues to demand hardwood flooring, the connection between these Cambodian logging practices and American consumers raises urgent questions about ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility [c2c24f49].