APRIL Group’s ongoing commitments to sustainable business and achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) were recognised earlier this year, when the company won several awards, and was also declared the ‘Overall Winner’ at the Sustainable Business Awards (SBAs) Indonesia.
Sponsored by Global Initiatives, the SBAs are an annual award series which assesses participating companies’ sustainability initiatives in areas such as strategy, supply chain management, land use and business responsibility, and which currently covers five countries in Asia, including Indonesia.
This year, APRIL received the awards for Best in Strategy and Sustainability Management, Best Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality, Best in UN SDGs, and a special award for its contribution to the achievement of UN SDG 4 of ‘Quality Education’.
Lucita Jasmin, APRIL Director of Sustainability and External Affairs, and Ibrahim Hasan, Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) President Commissioner accepted the awards from Dr Suharso Monoarfa, Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning, during the SBAs Indonesia ceremony which was held in Jakarta.
“The awards acknowledge the progress APRIL has made in implementing its sustainability commitments over the past five years.
“They serve to encourage us to build on this momentum and continue our progress as we move on to the next level of commitments for 2030 which we will announce soon,” Lucita said.
APRIL is aware about the need to continue championing the SDGs in Indonesia as well as the need for more positive impact on climate and nature, she added.
Triana Krisandini, APRIL Assistant Director of Sustainability, said the company remains fully committed to sustainable forest management as part of its production-protection model which integrates economic and social development with environmental protection, in line with the SDGs.
“This model recognises that development and sustainability are two sides of the same coin in Indonesia,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shinta Kamdani, President of Indonesia Business Council Sustainable Development said private companies play a vital role in Indonesia’s achievement of sustainability goals, due to their resources, specialised skills, cutting-edge technologies and innovations.
“This is why we welcome initiatives such as the SBAs, which highlight the different ways in which private sector companies are implementing sustainability into their operations,” she said.