A recent investigation by Mongabay suggests that U.S. consumers may unknowingly purchase flooring products made from wood illegally logged from Cambodia’s rainforests. The investigation focused on companies in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where furniture and engineered wood flooring are produced for the U.S. market. One company, Chinese-owned Nature Flooring (Cambodia), sources its plywood cores from Angkor Plywood, a company accused of illegal logging in protected areas like the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Nature Flooring has faced recurring issues with verifying the origin of the wood it purchases. While the company claims to buy from a plantation in Kandal province, investigations have revealed that Angkor Plywood does not have a plantation there, only a factory. Furthermore, a related company, Holy Plantation, has been accused of illegally logging timber from inside Prey Lang. Despite claims of being a “green” company, Nature Flooring's sourcing practices have raised concerns within the timber industry about the traceability and legality of its wood.

The investigation also linked Nature Flooring’s plywood to AHF Products, a major U.S. flooring manufacturer. While AHF maintains that it does not use illegally harvested wood, the findings highlight ongoing challenges in verifying the legality of wood products in global supply chains, particularly in industries claiming to prioritize sustainability.

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