The statement comes after the pulp and paper giant issued an announcement earlier this year (February) that it would stop using timber from Indonesia’s natural forests and only use trees from plantations.
The firm has been regularly criticised over the years for its clearing of forests. In the past, groups such as Greenpeace have accused the firm of fuelling climate change and pushing rare Sumatran tigers, orangutans and elephants toward extinction by clearing the forests where they live. The firm is being monitored by the latter to see that it commits to its aims.
‘Great success story’
Speaking to PN, APP head of stakeholder engagement Europe Andrew Coker said that the firm was still listening to NGOs and Greenpeace. He said: “We hope to be a leader in the field of sustainability and a great success story.”
The company announced an absolute deadline of 31 August for all natural forest wood felled prior to 1 February 2013, to have reached its pulp mills. After this date, the firm said no natural forest fibre will be able to enter APP log yards.
‘Cautiously optimistic’
Coker said that the firm was making continuous improvement and “as we deliver our targets negative perceptions will be changed”.
He concluded: “Asia Pulp & Paper’s Forest Conservation Policy, announced in February this year, is a watershed moment for the company, delivering a complete cessation of natural forest harvesting throughout its entire supply chain and a comprehensive programme of rainforest assessment and conservation.
“This goes a very long way to meeting the requirements of businesses with sophisticated sustainability procurement policies because they can be certain they are buying product with strong environmental credentials. APP is completely open to questions from customers on this and publishes regular update reports on the evolution of its programme on its website.”
Greenpeace’s response
Writing about APP’s progress in a blog, Greenpeace campaigner Bustar Maitar said: “There is evidence of strong commitment by some key senior staff at APP and Sinarmas Forestry – its pulpwood supplier – to follow up on the forest conservation policy. They have enlisted the help of organisations such as APCS, Ekologika and TFT, that have a wide ranging work programme to identify conservation values across APP’s supply chain including all the areas of remaining rainforest.
“There has also been a significant increase in transparency by APP. For example, the launch of a new website providing some important technical information about its operations including maps of supplier concession areas.
“The most important test of APP’s delivery is in the forest. And there have been a number of issues. APP announced an end to forest clearance from the 1 February, yet a recent NGO investigation found rainforest clearance – about 70 hectares – at an APP supplier’s concession in Sumatra.
“Cases like this rightly lead to questions about whether APP is really changing. Was this a genuine screw up or a lack of seriousness on the ground? How will the company respond to ensure this doesn’t happen again?
“Our view is that this can only be properly judged with more time. Any forest clearance is unacceptable. In their response, APP and TFT admit that mistakes have been made in this case, involving a prior agreement with local communities. Their grievance report confirms there were failings in decision making on the ground and that a process has been set up to ensure that lessons are learned. But, given APP’s previous track record, a number of stakeholders remain sceptical.”
