Statement on Earthsight Article
This article is a response to commentary published last week by Earthsight regarding APRIL and its ongoing engagement with Forest Stewardship Council.
APRIL Group has been engaged in its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) re-association process since 2016. We continue to work constructively and transparently with FSC as part of a publicly documented remedy process, which includes broad and in-depth engagement and consultation with a range of stakeholders, including NGOs and local communities.
APRIL has completed the relevant preconditions to commence the process for ending its disassociation from FSC. In November 2023, APRIL and FSC signed a remedy framework agreement, according to Chapter 3, section 2.1 of the FSC Remedy Framework, which initiated the implementation of APRIL’s Remedy & Association process (the ‘remedy process’).
Regarding wood supply, current and future fibre supply to APRIL is mainly sourced from its own and suppliers’ concession where any increased fibre supply needs will be met from productivity gains driven by significant investments in R&D and best practice silviculture.
All fibre supply to APRIL, including third party sourcing, is and will be in accordance with APRIL’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy 2.0 which explicitly commits the company to no deforestation in our supply chain from any sources. APRIL’s suppliers and annual third party assurance reports of APRIL’s compliance with its SFMP are available on the APRIL Sustainability Dashboard.
APRIL remains steadfastly committed to its no deforestation commitment, which is subject to frequent land cover change analysis and annual independent review. Contrary to Earthsight’s inference, APRIL and its supply partners have only ever operated on licensed forestry concession areas in line with applicable laws and regulations and its SFMP commitments.
Further information on the engagement between APRIL and FSC can be viewed on APRIL’s page on the FSC website. Earthsight also repeats NGO claims of links between APRIL, RGE and PT. Mayawana Persada. APRIL and RGE have publicly refuted these claims previously.
Additionally, Earthsight repeats NGO allegations concerning RGE and other business groups. RGE has said previously that it does not have any control or ownership of PT. Borneo Hijau Lestari. Regarding a Rainforest Action Network report that included references to PT Global Sawit Semesta (PT GSS), Apical has confirmed that it has stopped sourcing from the implicated supplier, as of end-November 2024.
APRIL and RGE remain fully committed to successfully completing the FSC re-association process and firmly believe this represents an opportunity for FSC and APRIL to deliver significant, positive environmental and social outcomes, particularly for the impacted rights holders and multiple stakeholders who deserve and welcome these benefits.
