APP to Expand PEFC Certified Products across Global Markets by End of Year
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Asia Pulp & Paper Group, Jakarta, Indonesia, reports that it will be able to offer customers a greater range of Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified products across global markets by the end of 2015. This follows the award of Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC) certification to more than 300,000 hectares of APP suppliers’ plantations.
The 306,400 hectares of IFCC-PEFC certified plantations are operated by two of APP’s suppliers in Riau province, Indonesia—PT. Arara Abadi and PT. Satria Perkasa Agung, respectively. In addition, more than 1,000,000 hectares of plantation area are in the final stages of IFCC-PEFC certification, with certification anticipated imminently. This means that APP will be much closer to reaching its Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020 target of 100% of pulpwood suppliers achieving sustainable forest management certification by 2020, significantly ahead of target.
"Consumers increasingly demand sustainable and certified products. APP embraces all credible certification schemes, and is a member and supporter of the PEFC. We have been working hard to help develop the Indonesian national sustainable forest management certification, and have helped to ensure that it is fully aligned with globally recognized standards, because we recognize that independent assurance of sustainable forest management is very important for our customers. Through our work to support the development of the IFCC, its endorsement by the PEFC, and the hard work of our suppliers in meeting the IFCC’s international standards, we have achieved this goal.
"This is now the third year of the implementation of our zero deforestation commitment. In combination with this commitment, this certification means buyers from APP can be assured that not only are APP’s products of high quality, but that they are certified, traceable, and support sustainable forest management across Indonesia." said Aida Greenbury, managing director Sustainability, APP.
"PEFC is proud to be associated with first certificates to be issued against the recently endorsed IFCC forest management standard, as through these Indonesia is signaling its commitment to sustainable forest management to consumers around the world," said Secretary General of PEFC International Ben Gunneberg.
"Today marks the realization of a lot of hard work and a long=held ambition to secure internationally recognized certification for Indonesia’s forests. Our dual ambition of stimulating the Indonesian economy, assisting small holders while protecting one of our most valuable resources, our natural forests, will be significantly bolstered by the presence of the PEFC certificate, which is regarded around the globe as a guarantee of responsibly sourced products," added Chairman of the IFCC Dradjad Wibowo.
IFCC was formally endorsed by PEFC in October 2014. As a result, APP suppliers’ IFCC-PEFC certified pulpwood provides a new, local source of PEFC certified material. Previously, all PEFC certified materials used by APP were imported.
In addition to the newly achieved IFCC-PEFC certification, APP pulpwood suppliers are certified to Indonesia’s mandatory Timber Legality Verification standards and/or Sustainable Production Forest Management standards, as well as the voluntary Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute standard.
