Asia Pulp and Paper is calling on paper customers to take a second look at their suppliers; who may be involved in deforestation but are yet to be exposed. Despite itself being on a journey towards regaining FSC certification by first convincing other associations of its reformed sustainability and zero-deforestation practices, APP says certifications like the FSC should be stricter and therefore more reliable. Aida Greenbury, director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement with APP, says customers should get away from focusing on labels and investigate what their suppliers are actually doing.

Aida Greenbury

She adds that the company needs the support of other firms operating in Australia and Indonesia, as well as government, to save the native rainforest. She says, “APP is the only paper manufacturer in Indonesia with a zero-deforestation policy. We were the only ones who stuck our neck out and we need support rather than being shunned. “We hope to be part of a new conservation model for Indonesia. We need to expand protection and it needs to be done by many parties including government.” She says the Indonesian government is currently in election mode and not doing much decision making, and she does not expect much from the Australian coalition government on environmental policies and climate change. APP will undergo an audit by the Rainforest Alliance into its Forest Conservation Policy in September, as a step towards its FSC certification. Greenbury says she is confident APP will now pass with flying colours, and even adds that standards and certifications need to be stricter if they are to do much to help the environment.

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