KPMG Performance Registrar Inc. (KPMG PRI) has completed an assurance engagement relating to the implementation by APRIL Group of its Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) 2.0. This is the 10th report to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) from KPMG Performance Registrar Inc. (KPMG PRI) since the APRIL Group (APRIL) announced its original Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) in 2014.

This report covers 19 performance indicators for the period of January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022 and were assured across eight field locations (2 RAPP Sectors, 4 Supply Partners, 1 Open Market Supplier and 1 Community Forestry). The current set of 19 indicators was adopted following a review by the SAC and a public consultation period in the SAC meeting on December 5-9, 2022.

In summary, no Non-Conformance was identified by KPMG PRI and this marks APRIL’s fifth consecutive year without Non-Conformance of its SFMP 2.0 Assurance works. Seven of the nine Opportunities for Improvement from initial findings issued in 2020 and 2022 have been addressed, while the remaining two action plans are actively in progress.

There are seven new Opportunities for Improvement identified this year, primarily focused on APRIL to continue to work on strengthening its Health & Safety culture, procedures and documentation in addition to improvements to its Supplier Due Diligence System, clearer timelines to implement action plans from external findings and improvements in Burned Area Analysis and Reporting.