From bowiki

Laminate Drum shells are made from plies: multiple layers of wood that are glued together into a solid Sheet. Commonly Birch Ply is the material of choice.

Laminating drum shells provides the strongest possible construction method: See Plywood

Is solid wood not better?

Steam Bending solid wood for a shell is different and has a more 'traditional sound' with a shorter shell sustain. Solid wood has its own internal tensions because of the way the tree has grown and then has been bent using steam, this leaves the inner side compressed and the outer under tension. Because the internal wood structures naturally align, a weakness in the Grain can simply follow a path made by nature. Solid wood has greater potential to warp as it settles out over time into its final position. This is one of the reasons for crossbars in the old riddles and winnowing tools that became bodhrans.

Plywoods have massive extra integral strength when compared to a bent single board. Each ply is stacked with its wood Grain running Perpendicular to the layer above and/or below it. This means that unlike solid wood there is no potential for a Linear grain split or any kind of path for a developing weakness. Plywoods when made into a drum shell are self-bracing and there is no requirement for a crossbar to provide structural stability. There is minimal chance of a well made laminate shell warping.

Laminate drums are lighter which offers improved shell Radiation, they retain shape better and they vibrate at a lower frequency but affected by shell thickness.

Whilst of course there are certainly 'disposable' industrial plywoods, there are many levels of this fabulous product available. Plies can be found anywhere from hand cut using select hardwoods to layers of compressed wood chippings.