Indonesian paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has agreed to end natural forest logging as from today and rely solely on plantation timber, in a move endorsed by its long-term adversary Greenpeace.
APP’s timber suppliers, which number about three dozen, are under now binding agreements to not log timber with high conservation value, or in peat swamps, with the threat of contract termination should they veer from the new line. In addition APP has agreed to get free prior informed consent of landholders when it opens a new concession.
APP has seen its outlets for its products shrink in the western world as Greenpeace, the WWF and other green lobby groups have battered the company’s image for the past decade with claims that APP has always said were based on misinformation, ignorance and self preservation.
APP paper stock for commercial printers has been badly affected in Australia, with all the major merchants including Spicers, BJ Ball and KW Doggett significantly downsizing their APP lines over the past few years as fears of a green backlash grew.
Aida Greenbury, APP managing director for Sustainability who has toured Australia several times says, “APP has today committed to protect all natural forests across its supply chain as part of its plans to support the Government of Indonesia’s low carbon development strategy for our economy.
“Our new Forest Conservation Policy sets our company on course to be a leading world-class paper company solely based on sustainable plantation sources.”
The company says that from February 1 all of APP’s suppliers have suspended natural forest clearance whilst independent assessments take place to identify areas of high conservation value that will be protected through a long-term management programme.
High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken by The Forest Trust (TFT) will identify all forested areas, enabling APP to ensure that future plantation development does not take place in forests.
APP announced the new Forest Conservation policy today during the latest quarterly update of its ‘Vision 2020’ Sustainability Roadmap, which was published in June 2012.
Initially the APP Sustainability Roadmap set out a plan for APP to implement High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) principles and end natural forest clearance across its entire supply chain, by 2015. Today’s announcement means that objective has been accelerated by almost two years.
APP has said that the HCVF and HCS policies will be applied immediately to any further expansion or development of its business.
The Group has encouraged third parties, to participate in a monitoring programme to ensure that these commitments are being implemented.
Teguh Ganda Wijaya, Chairman of the APP Group, said: “This is a major commitment and investment from APP Group. We are doing this for the sustainability of our business and for the benefit of society. We hope our stakeholders will support our new Policy, help us along the way and urge other industry players to follow.
“APP is a world leader in the pulp and paper business, and we will act as leaders are expected to do.”
Robin Mailoa, CEO of Sinar Mas Forestry, stated: “Sinar Mas Forestry is completely committed to the implementation of our new forest conservation policy across our whole supply chain. It will present challenges for our suppliers, but I am confident that with support of our stakeholders across government and civil society, we can ensure its success.”
Scott Poynton, Executive Director of TFT, commented: “APP’s shift towards a policy of No Deforestation is hugely significant. As the largest forest product business in an extremely sensitive area, APP is now in a position of leadership, a stunning reversal in light of its past reputation. The new APP Forest Conservation Policy de-links the company from natural forest destruction and recognises the rights of indigenous and local communities. In so doing APP has set a benchmark for others to follow. There is of course a lot of work to do to implement the policy in its entirety and to put in place the necessary controls and monitoring processes. The leaders of APP recognise this and we will work alongside them to make this happen.”
