Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) Advances Sustainability Goals with ISO 26000 Standard

Indah Kiat Tangerang (IKT) Mill Receives ‘Advanced’ Rating in Independent Assessment

JAKARTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) has received an Advanced level rating in SGS’s independent assessment for ISO 26000 social responsibility standards, making it the first in its sector in Asia-Pacific to receive this recognition from leading independent global industry auditor Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS).

ISO 26000 is a set of globally recognized best-practice guidelines on organisational governance, labor practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement and development. IKT achieved a level four verification, out of a possible five, giving it an Advanced status. The assessment is based on the SGS Performance Standard on ISO 26000.

“The objective of the SGS Performance ISO 26000 method is to identify how organizations can improve their performance in various areas of social responsibility. We are pleased to see that a corporation such as APP has chosen our method, and values continuous improvement, demonstrating commitment to internal and external stakeholders. Benchmarks and best practices in sustainable fields were provided to APP to enable a path of ongoing improvement and evaluation of performance," stated Mr. Guy Escarfail, Managing Director, SGS Indonesia.

This new Advanced designation compliments the APP Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020 launched on June 5th. The Roadmap details the company’s path forward towards social and environmental best practices in sustainability. ISO 26000 guidelines align with the goals of the sustainability roadmap including human rights, employee welfare, and community empowerment.

Ms. Aida Greenbury, Managing Director Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement, APP, welcomed the recognition and pledged to extend the program: “APP strives to be the responsible global leader in the pulp and paper industry. The ISO 26000 standard is only a first step toward a bigger commitment of responsible business practices. The next step is to replicate the successful program in other mills, and we expect them to be eligible for independent verification as early as 2013.”

“As a growing corporation operating in a developing country, sustainable development is a pillar of our operations. We’ve adopted the ISO 26000 guidelines to ensure the integration of socially responsible behaviour and the development of sustainable relationships with many members of our community such as customers, employees, NGOs and business partners,” she added.

The mill has also achieved various certifications including ISO 9001 for Quality Management System and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management System. IKT was also awarded the first ISO 14001 in Indonesia, in 1996.

About APP Indonesia:

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) is a brand umbrella for paper products which are produced by several mills in Indonesia such as PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, PT Pindo Deli Pulp & Paper Mills, PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk, PT Lontar Papyrus Pulp & Paper Industries, and PT Ekamas Fortuna. APP is headquartered in Indonesia and markets its product to more than 120 countries. Most of APP’s production facilities are Chain-of-Custody certified by LEI and PEFC.

APP supports several conservation initiatives, including a 178,000 hectare Biosphere Reserve in Giam Siak Kecil - Bukit Batu and an area of 106,000 hectare for the Senepis Tiger Sanctuary. Both are located in the province of Riau, Sumatera. Other APP wildlife preservation initiatives include supporting the Kutai Orangutan Program in Kalimantan and the conservation of the Javan Rhino in Ujung Kulon National Park.

About APP’s Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020:

On June 5^th 2012, Asia Pulp & Paper Group announced its Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020 for the next decade and beyond, which extends APP’s commitments on further improving environmental performance, biodiversity conservation and protection of community rights. Throughout this process, APP has committed to transparent and regular reporting on its progress against the goals outlined in the Sustainability Roadmap. Key objectives include becoming 100% reliant on plantation fibre by 2015, and having its pulpwood suppliers be 100% Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certified by 2020.

A cornerstone of the Roadmap is the Responsible Fibre Procurement and Processing Policy (RFPPP) for which operation-wide High Conservation Value (HCV) and traditional and civil rights protection are essential components. This journey that APP has embarked upon reflects an ongoing multistakeholder approach including participation among NGOs, governments, customers and local communities with the aim of achieving our sustainability goals. For more information, please visit: www.rainforestrealities.com or www.asiapulppaper.com.

About SGS:

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 70,000 employees, we operate a network of more than 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world. For more information, please visit: www.sgs.com.

About ISO 26000:

Publicly launched in November 2010, ISO 26000 provides guidance on how businesses and organizations can operate in a socially responsible way. This means acting in an ethical and transparent way that contributes to the health and welfare of society.