Paper and pulp supplier Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) has reported its conservation commitments to reduce environmental damage three years ago are being achieved.

APP, which partners with Australian paper and tissue affiliates Solaris Paper and Paper Force, made long-term pledges in 2013 to ‘end natural forest conversion throughout its supply chain, best practice in peatland management and adopt a collaborative approach to resolving social issues’.

In August of last year APP committed to retiring approximately 7,000 hectares of commercial plantation areas in Indonesia in a bid to protect carbon-rich peatlands and support the Government of Indonedia's target to reduce emissions by 26 per cent by 2020.

Since its launch in February 2013, APP and its suppliers have allocated around 600,000 hectares for forest conservation, blocked and protected more than 3,500 peatland canals and implemented a new integrated fire management strategy.

[Related: APP's quest for zero deforestation]

Larry Jackson, managing director at Paper Force, says APP has spent approximately $200m on its pledge for zero deforestation, and hopes all forest related and paper industries can commit to similar sustainable practices.

 “We cannot do this by ourselves, and we encourage a range of parties to do the same in ending deforestation,” says Jackson.

The global outfit says it is satisfied with its environmental achievements, and plans to continue reducing its environmental impact beyond the objective of 2020, needing ‘all stakeholders’ in its business and the industry to commit.  

APP spent the best part of a decade battling with NGOs suspicious of its environmental management in Indonesia, but since 2013 has been working closely with the NGOs to achieve agreed environmental outcomes.

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