In 2015, APRIL Group announced Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) 2.0, setting out a range of commitments which apply entirely and exclusively to APRIL, which is an independently managed company with operations in Indonesia. It also covers all current and future wood suppliers to APRIL as well as any future acquisitions or partnerships.

Those commitments include a halt to the harvest of mixed hardwoods, development of only non-forested areas, application of a landscape approach to optimize forest conservation, the establishment of an Independent Peat Expert Working group (IPEWG), and a range of processes to ensure engagement with local communities. The policy also re-commits to the maintenance of an independent Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), originally established in 2014 to monitor and provide transparency over APRIL’s implementation of SFMP 2.0 and to oversee independent verification of progress.

The SAC commissioned KPMG PRI to undertake an assurance engagement over the performance indicators presented by APRIL in relation to its SFMP 2.0 performance indicators, which are developed by APRIL with the input of SAC to provide quantitative information on APRIL’s progress in implementing its commitment under SFMP 2.0. Findings and conclusions of the assurance engagement are consolidated into a SFMP 2.0 Assurance Report, where findings include non-conformities and opportunity for improvement. Following the SFMP 2.0 Assurance Report, APRIL will develop and implement action plans to address each of the identified non-conformities and opportunity of improvement.