Paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is being named as a global leader in green practices, after receiving its fifth award from the Sustainability Reporting Awards (SRA) in Solo, Indonesia, a Special Commendation for Early Adopted GRI Standards.
The Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) Standards is the world’s first standardised sustainability reporting structure to be applied internationally, having been instigated by independent standards organisation GRI last year to replace earlier guidelines. The organisation recommended business take on early adoption of the latest GRI Standards, which otherwise would be officially effective from 1 July 2018. APP, which is a major supply partner for Australian companies Solaris Paper and Paper Force applied the latest standards in developing its 2016 Sustainability Report published last year.
Sera Noviany, sustainability manager at APP says “We are encouraged to receive the special commendation at this year’s Sustainability Reporting Award for our use of the GRI Standards in our latest Sustainability Report. APP’s early adoption of the most updated version of the standards is a reflection of our commitment to running a sustainable pulp and paper business with the highest standards in accountability and transparency.
In its report, APP says it made progress in meeting its commitments, including the Forest Conservation Policy and the Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020. The company says the it was the first full year of APP’s revised mill sustainability KPI approach, which led to improvements in energy use and carbon intensity, as well as the completion of APP’s Integrated Sustainable Forest Management Plans (ISFMPs) for all its pulpwood suppliers.
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Noviany says, “Having a common language globally, such as the GRI Standards, allows companies and other stakeholders to discuss such progress as well as efforts that need to be done in a measurable and productive way. We are keen to share our experiences in implementing these global standards, and hope to see a wider adoption in Indonesia in the near future.”
Initiated by the National Center for Sustainability Reporting, the SRA recognises companies that communicate their sustainability initiatives and progress through reporting mechanisms such as sustainability reports and corporate websites. It says it aims to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a commitment that APP says it shares.
Previously, APP won the Special Commendation for Best Practice for its Forest Conservation Policy in the 2016 Sustainability Reporting Awards.
APP, part of Sinarmas, is a trade name for a group of pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Indonesia and China. The company produces tissue, packaging and paper, with an annual combined pulp, paper, packaging product and converting capacity of over 19 million tons per annum.
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