Paper giant APP turns over new leaf to become unlikely protector of Indonesia’s forests

Paper has never been the first industry to come to mind when it comes to talk about forest protection and sustainable development.

But one Chinese-Indonesian pulp and paper producer has made an attempt to change this by rebranding itself from the stereotypical tree-razing commodity giant to unlikely protector of the archipelago’s forests.

In 2013, Asia Pulp and Paper announced that it was officially stopping any forest clearances as part of its operations, setting what green groups hope will be an example for the entire Indonesian industry, China and the rest of Asia.

“Since the end of 2013, we’ve no longer sourced any raw material or fibre from non-plantation areas,” Librian Angraeni, the company’s environmental and social footprint manager, told the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.

She said the original plan had been to achieve zero deforestation by this year but by late 2013, they had managed to achieve the goal of sourcing fibre or raw material sourced only from the company’s 38 suppliers on 2.6 million hectares of concession-area plantations across Indonesia. The company also has 300,000 hectares of plantation in mainland China.

“We’re starting with Indonesian operations because most of our suppliers are from here. Once the system is established in Indonesia we will engage our sister country China to conduct transfer of knowledge.