2018 was a year marked by renewed purpose and continued progress across the RGE (Royal Golden Eagle) group of companies. In addition to new ventures and opportunities, there was an intensification of efforts in sustainable development across the RGE companies. Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) was unveiled as the newest business group in RGE, and is […]
APRIL Sustainability Report 2017: Empowering Development
APRIL Group, one of the largest, most technologically advanced and efficient makers of pulp and paper products in the world, released its 2017 Sustainability Report in Nov 2018. Themed “Empowering Development”, the Report covers the progress and challenges in implementing economic, environmental and social responsibilities in the group’s operations in Indonesia, where its manufacturing, industrial forest plantations, […]
Sustainable Development Goals: “A Golden Opportunity”
The Singapore leg of the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development, held on 11-12 October 2018, saw representatives from the business and non-government sectors discuss their perspectives on “Partnerships for SDG Action”. Panel sessions covered a range of topics, such as climate action, urbanisation, circular economy and human rights. RGE Vice Chairman and APRIL Group […]
RGE Grows Viscose Fibre Business with Asia Pacific Rayon
Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) has become the newest business group to be managed by RGE. Based in Riau, Indonesia, APR will seamlessly source dissolving pulp from co-located RGE pulp and paper business group APRIL to produce viscose fibre. APR’s mill has an initial annual production capacity of 240,000 tonnes and is set to commence production […]
With APRIL’s Support, Sialang Honey Farmers Taste Sweet Success
Tall and slippery, Sialang trees (Koompassia excelsa) can grow up to 88 meters (289 ft) in height. Endemic to lowland tropical forests in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, their slippery trunks attract giant honey bees (Apis dorsata) who hang their huge combs from the branches that tower over the forest canopy. While local farmers […]
FFVP’s 4th Anniversary: Engaged Communities, Fewer Fires
On 26 July 2018, leading pulp and paper producer APRIL celebrated the fourth anniversary of its successful Fire-Free Village Programme (FFVP). An evolution of the Village Incentive Programme in 2014, the initiative seeks to engage communities as an on-the-ground approach to address the problem of fire and haze in Indonesia. The event was attended by various […]
APRIL’s Independent Peat Expert Working Group (IPEWG) Publishes Phase 1 Progress Report
The Independent Peat Expert Working Group (IPEWG), a working group of global peatland experts and scientists that leading pulp and paper producer APRIL established in January 2016, has published its Phase 1 Progress Report, detailing the accomplishments and challenges over the past two years of engaging with the company. Formed after the launch of APRIL’s Sustainable […]
SAC Progress Report Highlights Achievements & Challenges in SFMP 2.0 Implementation
APRIL’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) published its progress report, providing a retrospective of its engagement with one of the largest, most technologically advanced and efficient makers of pulp and paper products in the world. Meeting for the first time in January 2014, the SAC operates as an independent body tasked with overseeing the implementation of APRIL’s […]
RER Inaugural Annual Report Highlights Increased Biodiversity, Absent Fires and Engaged Communities
Endangered species have returned. Fires have been absent for almost three years. Communities have been engaged and their members, given alternative livelihoods. These are several of the highlights in Riau Ecosystem Restoration’s (RER) first annual report, released in April 2018. Guided by its pioneering approach of a four-phase model of peatland forest protection, creation and […]
LKYSPP Students’ APRIL Visit: Policies, Programmes & Communities
On 20 March, ten students from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS) visited APRIL’s operations in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau Province, Indonesia. The trip was part of the students’ class on “Moral Reasoning & the Policy Process”, a module on the challenges, justifications and implications of policy positions […]