The company says it will begin production of an LEI-certified paper later this year, with Aida Greenbury, APP’s director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement, saying the company “is planning to market its LEI-certified paper globally, starting with Asia”.

“We are very proud to have achieved LEI CoC certification as it demonstrates our commitment to responsible development of Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry,” Greenbury said. “We are constantly working to improve the sustainability of our operations.”

APP’s mills were accredited following a four stage certification program which began in April this year. The certification process was conducted by TUV International Indonesia.

The LEI (translated as the Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute) became a certification body in 2000, with over 1.5 million hectares of forest in Indonesia certified by the organisation.

APP has battled persistent allegations regarding its environmental practices. In 2007, the company was kicked out of the FSC over allegations of destroying tropical forest in Indonesia.

However, APP has repeatedly denied these allegations and touted its environmental credentials, with four of its Indonesian mills becoming PEFC certified in October last year.

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