Newsletter Stories


Wednesday, 30 April 2014
FSC Lauan Available for Film & TV Productions

April 30, 2014


While an assortment of movie studios have made solid commitments to environmental stewardship, including procurement policies that encourage the use of FSC-certified products, there can be a disconnect between corporate policy and actual practice during production.  

One example of such a disconnect is the use of Lauan (Shorea spp), a diptocarp found mainly in tropical forests that is used extensively to make strong, light, low-cost plywood for movie sets. Known by a variety of names, including Meranti, Lawaan, Seraya, Balau, Bangkirai and Philippine mahogany, 148 species of Shorea are currently on the IUCN Redlist, with the majority listed as “critically endangered.”  

Enter LeNoble Lumber (FSC-C100559), based on Long Island, NY. Founded in1965 by Paul LeNoble, the lumberyard has long provided Lauan to the motion picture and television industries in the New York region, including such productions as the Godfather, Ghostbusters, the Exorcist and Girls. 

Today, Matt Dienstag is Vice President at LeNoble, responsible for many aspects of the business, including their commitment to sourcing FSC-certified Lauan. According to Dienstag, one of the keys is LeNoble’s ability to maintain a large inventory in their 100,000 square-foot warehouse. Because lead times for FSC Lauan can be 4-5 months, the inventory allows LeNoble to serve customers when they need product. Most of LeNoble’s Lauan comes from Sumalindo Lestari Jayo, one of Indonesia’s largest plywood producers – a company that is also FSC certified. While LeNoble currently has some remaining stock of non-FSC Lauan, once it is gone they will sell only FSC-certified Lauan to all customers, according to Dienstag.

In addition to traditional Lauan plywood, LeNoble is also offering a plywood product with a laminate of white, FSC-certified paper on one side,making it easy to paint for set design.  

According to Dienstag, “Lauan has given the movie and TV industry a bad reputation,” since much of it comes from rainforest degradation and deforestation. Today, LeNoble is offering FSC-certified Lauan that helps connect corporate procurement policies with the realities on the ground. As such, FSC-certified Lauan offers an important opportunity for film and TV productions to implement their procurement policies and demonstrate commitment to responsible forest management. 

For more information, visit www.lenoblelumber.com.