APP Addresses Industry Leaders at RISI North American Forest Products Conference

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Last week, Ian Lifshitz, Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) Director of Sustainability of North America, presented at the 27^th annual RISI North American Forest Products Conference. RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, and this year’s event witnessed record-breaking attendance from paper industry participants, technology companies, financial institutions, industrial conglomerates, government and NGOs.

“RISI is a world-renowned organization, and the wide array of conference attendees from various companies and entities – both within the paper industry and outside it – underscores our shared commitment to propelling the industry toward enhanced sustainability, through a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach.”

In his presentation “APP: Beyond Compliance,” Mr. Lifshitz explored the delicate balance that must occur within the Indonesian paper industry, where community, economic and environmental imperatives all require equal attention – and the ways APP is surpassing compliance with regards to its sustainability initiatives. He also provided conference attendees with an update on APP’s recent operational strides, including the company’s commitment to source 100 percent of its Indonesian pulpwood from forest plantations, as part of its recently-launched Sustainability Roadmap for 2020 and beyond.

A key component of APP’s presentation involved the notion of forest plantations as the future of the industry. “The pulp and paper industry harvests a 100 percent renewable, recyclable resource, and it’s important to view the industry through that lens,” remarked Lifshitz. “At APP, the vast majority of our fiber is derived from rapidly-renewable pulpwood, since our trees are harvested just six years after they’re planted. This is remarkable when you consider the 40-year growth cycle that is typical of colder northern climates. We believe our industry’s future will be characterized by this rapidly-renewable fiber, which is more cost-effective for production and produces a higher-quality product for our customers.”

Mr. Lifshitz also provided conference attendees with an overview of SVLK, which is Indonesia’s new timber legality and verification certification. SVLK is increasingly being embraced as a recognized global standard, so the international business community can feel assurance that the wood products they import from Indonesia are legal and sustainable.

Mark Rushton, editor of Pulp & Paper International and the RISI website, moderated the session at which APP presented. During this session, participants put forth valuable views and information about sustainability in the wood products industries.

“We were extremely honored to be selected to speak at this year’s North American Forest Products Conference,” continued Mr. Lifshitz. “RISI is a world-renowned organization, and the wide array of conference attendees from various companies and entities – both within the paper industry and outside it – underscores our shared commitment to propelling the industry toward enhanced sustainability, through a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach.”

About APP:

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) is a brand umbrella for paper products produced in Indonesia and China. The company markets products to more than 120 countries around the globe. In 2012, APP established its Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020, an industry-leading initiative that will allow the company to be wholly-reliant on raw materials from plantations alone by 2015. Most of APP’s production facilities are currently Chain-of-Custody certified by LEI and PEFC. APP mills are the first pulp and paper mills to receive the Timber Legality Assurance System (SVLK) certification in Indonesia. APP supports a variety of conservation initiatives, including a 178,000 hectare Biosphere Reserve in Giam Siak Kecil – Bukit Batu and a 106,000 hectare Senepis Tiger Sanctuary in Sumatra. Other APP wildlife preservation initiatives include the support of the Kutai Orangutan Program in Kalimantan and the conservation of the Javan Rhino in Ujung Kulon National Park. For more information, visit www.asiapulppaper.com.