Jakarta. Forest-based industry is taking part in the Indonesian government’s efforts to achieve net zero emission by 2060 or sooner, among others by implementing sustainability principles and energy efficiency in its operational activities.

APRIL Group is one of the forest-based companies that has made efforts to support those principles.

The company manages industrial plantation forests that produce pulp and its derivative products, such as paper and packaging paper in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau Province. One of APRIL's flagship products, "PaperOne", has been sold to 110 countries.

Sihol Aritonang, the president director of APRIL Group’s operational arm Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), was among the panelists at the 2024 BNI Investor Daily Summit in Jakarta on Tuesday. Speaking in a panel discussion themed “Developing National Energy Security, While Driving Indonesia's Green Economy”, Sihol explained what APRIL had done so far to support net zero emission.

Renewable Energy Innovation

APRIL has optimized the use of renewable energy in its factories. Currently, 88.24 percent of the energy that the company uses comes from clean and renewable energy sources, one of which is biomass produced from by-products such as black liquor, white liquor, sludge, and methanol. APRIL has also installed 26 megawatts of solar panels, which will be increased to 50 megawatts by 2030.

"We are targeting the use of clean and renewable energy to reach 90 percent by 2030. That is only a 2 percent gap from what we have achieved so far,” Sihol said, adding that if achieved, APRIL would become the private company with the largest solar panel capacity in Indonesia.

Sustainable Forest Management

According to Sihol, science has proven that emissions from managed industrial plantation forests are lower than unmanaged or degraded forest areas. Sihol said that the company’s efforts in boosting the plantation forests’ productivity also have a direct impact on reducing the carbon emissions. This aligns with the government’s plans to achieve Indonesia's Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink by 2030.

The company also undertakes nature-based solutions to achieve the net zero target. APRIL implements what it calls a 1-for-1 commitment. For every hectare of industrial plantation forests that it manages, APRIL has vowed to conserve and restore an area of the same size. The company reported that it had achieved 80 percent of this target, including through the Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER), a 150,000-hectare peat swamp forest that is part of APRIL’s restoration efforts.

Support for Green Economy

The world is seeing a rising demand for sustainable goods. In response to this trend, APRIL produces eco-friendly packaging paper products. Earlier this year, APRIL began a trial operation of its sustainable paperboard facility. The investments that went into this facility was worth Rp 33.4 trillion, including the supporting infrastructure. The facility is able to produce 1.2 million tons of biodegradable and recyclable paperboard annually under the BoardOne brand.

This step not only meets the market demand for sustainable packaging, but also strengthens APRIL's role in driving a green economy in Indonesia. APRIL is also running a waste to value initiative by utilizing sludge and fly ash to reduce waste accumulation and support sustainable infrastructure development.

These initiatives are part of APRIL's 2030 strategy which emphasizes sustainable growth through diversification and circularity, in line with the company's commitment to support Indonesia's transition to a green economy, according to Sihol.

Joining Sihol at the panelist discussion were Energy Ministry’s director-general Harris and Vale Indonesia’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs at Vale Indonesia. Beritasatu.com and The Jakarta Globe’s editor-in-chief Syukri Rahmatullah was the moderator of this session.