This week’s New Yorker reports on how illegally logged Russian wood is smuggled over the border into China, where it’s turned into all sorts of products. In this video that accompanies the article, you see it end up as toilet seats for sale in U.S. Walmart stores.

It’s hard to think of an object that isn’t made of wood or packaged or encounters wood at some point in its journey through the economy. Any number of household items that you can buy at Walmart, like a toilet seat for instance, may very well be made from Russian wood.

“Hot Seats” [NewYorker.com]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.