Jakarta. Earth Day, an annual event celebrated on April 22, reminds us of the importance of taking meaningful steps to save the planet. This year, the Earth Day embraces the theme of “Our Power, Our People”, which highlights the role of renewable energy and the people’s collective power in addressing the climate crisis.

Renewable energy has become a key solution in slashing emissions. Industries, which are one the biggest energy consumers, are pivotal in this energy transition. Take for example: APRIL Group, which is known for its paper brand PaperOne, boasts an annual capacity of 4 million tons of pulp and 1.15 million tons of paper. With such huge production capacity, APRIL can play a strategic role in the transition towards renewables. The company even launched a decade-long sustainability blueprint known as APRIL2030 in 2020. Under this pledge, APRIL aims to generate 90 percent of the energy needed in its production using renewable energy.

To this end, the company is taking advantage of solar power. In 2021, APRIL began installing solar panels with a 1 megawatt (MW) capacity over a closed landfill. The use of landfill will not only reduce its environmental impact, but also come as an innovation to use land efficiently. The capacity of its solar power also keeps increasing as the company set up rooftop panels on its paper packaging factory that entered operations in early 2024. This enabled APRIL to increase its renewable capacity without opening new land.

As of 2024, APRIL’s solar panels hold a total capacity of 26.3 MW, far exceeding the 25 MW target set for 2030. These achievements prompted APRIL to double the target to 50 MW by 2030.

Not only in the operational area in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau Province, APRIL has also begun expanding the installation of solar panels to its offices spread across 27 industrial plantation forest (HTI) estate areas which used to rely on diesel generators.

According to the APRIL2030 Progress Report, clean and energy has powered 84.6 percent of APRIL’s factory needs. Aside from solar panels, APRIL also uses biomass and byproducts from its production processes. APRIL also vows to increase the use of biodiesel for the vehicles used for operational activities, such as logging trucks and harvesting equipment.  APRIL aims to source 50 percent of its fiber operation energy needs from renewables and cleaner energy sources. It has now reached 33.1 percent thanks to the transition from B30 to B35 biodiesel.

APRIL also continues to innovate in converting waste into energy sources. APRIL has succeeded in reusing sludge or waste from water treatment as energy that can be reused for the production process.

“APRIL’s commitment to accelerating the transition to renewable energy is part of our efforts to realize sustainable business growth, as well as continuing to support the government’s agenda in achieving net zero emission by 2060 or sooner,” said Sihol Aritonang, the President Director of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, the operating arm of APRIL Group.