Lauan Plywood - The Evolution of RevolutionPly ®

Why one Man's Lauan is Not Another Man's Luan

Patriot Timber Products’ experience in supplying Lauan plywood, often called Luan, led to the development of RevolutionPly® — a sustainable, long-term alternative that far exceeds the traditional Luan panels in the market today.

To understand why RevolutionPly® is a better choice, it’s essential to know what Lauan is and where it comes from.

Lauan plywood is a commercial term in the U.S. that typically refers to a 1/8" to 1/4" tropical hardwood plywood used in flooring underlayment, lamination, paper overlay, furniture, and millwork.

Originally produced over 50 years ago in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, Luan plywood was crafted from tropical hardwood logs sourced from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The primary species, Shorea spp., known locally as "Lauan" in the Philippines, is better recognized in the U.S. as Philippine mahogany or, more recently, Meranti plywood.

 

Why Was Lauan So Widely Used?

Lauan’s popularity in Asia’s hardwood plywood industries stemmed from its abundance across Southeast Asia. The logs were clean, straight, and stable, making them ideal for manufacturing. Luan's consistent density and color made it a reliable choice for high-quality plywood production. However, as demand for hardwood plywood rose globally, countries supplying Lauan began developing their own plywood manufacturing. By the 1990s, Indonesia emerged as the world's largest hardwood plywood producer, producing nearly ten million cubic meters annually — the equivalent of around 300,000 tractor-trailer loads.

 

Environmental Impact and the Decline of Lauan Plywood

The tropical hardwood trees used for Lauan plywood production were not sustainably managed. Overharvesting led to a rapid depletion of resources, causing production to collapse in many regions. The Philippine plywood industry has nearly vanished, Indonesia’s production fell to less than a tenth of its peak, and Malaysia's output continues to decline. Today, Luan plywood is sourced from tropical hardwoods worldwide, including Africa, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and South America. Unfortunately, most sources are still not managed sustainably. Consequently, the supply has diminished, quality has significantly declined, and consistency varies greatly from one shipment to the next.

 

RevolutionPly®: A Sustainable Solution

RevolutionPly® marks a pivotal move away from traditional Luan plywood. Free from tropical hardwoods, each panel is crafted from sustainably sourced plantation wood. RevolutionPly® guarantees consistent quality and appearance from panel to panel, establishing a new standard in eco-friendly plywood. As a first-of-its-kind, RevolutionPly® is the superior choice as a sustainable, long-term alternative that protects the global environment and promotes responsible use of forest resources.

 

RevolutionPly® panels are protected by one or more issued US and foreign patents, which may include U.S. Patent Nos. 8,414,996 and 9,242,391.

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