Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings

Criticism and controversies

Environmental impact

APRIL has been criticised by non-governmental organizations for contributing to deforestation in Indonesia. In 2001, Friends of the Earth accused APRIL of fuelling the deforestation of Indonesia.

In June 2015, APRIL promised to halt deforestation and announced its enhanced Sustainable Forest Management Policy. As part of the new sustainability policy, APRIL said it was moving up by four years its plans to harvest only wood from its own plantations.

Forest Stewardship Council Disassociation

On August 8, 2013, Germany-based non-profit certification organisation Forest Stewardship Council announced that it has ended all association with APRIL after a complaint filed in May of that year by non-governmental organizations Greenpeace International, Rainforest Action Network and WWF Indonesia alleging violation of the council's policy of association.

In response, APRIL in a press statement, said that they “proactively withdrew from FSC certification of their own volition” earlier in July. In September, 2014, APRIL approached the Forest Stewardship Council to begin the processing of ending their disassociation. As of 2023, work is ongoing and includes APRIL issuing an “acknowledgement of harm” letter.

Fire and haze issues and management

In 2013, APRIL was named one of the eight companies responsible for sending hazardous level of smog to Singapore and Malaysia.

APRIL invests in fire prevention and suppression. The company invests more than $6 million in fire fighting equipment and maintains a 700-member rapid response team. In 2015, it pioneered the Fire-Free Village Programme, an incentive-based initiative that involves working at the community level to encourage alternatives to fire as a land management tool. Under this program, APRIL also conducts community education campaign, monitors air quality and even hires and trains people to be village crew leaders to spread "no-burn" message.