Pustanlinghut noted, from 2016 to 2019 there has been an increase in registered environmentally friendly products. In 2019 there was a significant increase with 23 products that have been registered as products that meet the type I ecolabel, where in 2016 there were only 4 products. For products with ecolabel type II, from 2016 to 2019 there was an increase from 18 products to 27 products. Meanwhile, the adoption of a greener lifestyle and the behaviour of “green consumerism” has already begun in society.

“The results of a survey by WWF-Indonesia and the Nielsen Survey in 2017 show that as many as 63% of Indonesian consumers are willing to consume environmentally friendly products even at a higher price. This shows a significant increase in consumer awareness and indicates the readiness of the domestic market to absorb products that are produced sustainably. However, from the same survey results, 53% stated that they could not find environmentally friendly products in local shops, “said Lilik Unggul Rahardjo, Executive Committee of IBCSD.

The Director of Consumer Empowerment at the Ministry of Trade, Ojak Simon Manurung also added, “green consumers, according to the Consumer Empowerment Index, consumers in Indonesia are categorized as” capable “or consumers think first about the goods to be consumed, therefore ecolabel education and others are needed.”

To welcome the emergence of “green consumerism” and encourage increased availability of goods and services with ecolabeling, various efforts were made. One example is ecolabel training for the business sector as a provider of environmentally friendly goods and services, such as the one that conducted by the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD). The virtual training lasted for two days, with dozens of company representatives attending as participants.

Business actors and businesses as a whole are expected to start implementing responsible consumption and production processes in accordance with SDG 12, so that they can continue to survive. Using a platform such as the Greenlifestyle working group established by IBCSD can be an alternative for learning and seeking information for a more sustainable business.

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There are companies who have taken major steps to be climate positive. For instance, Microsoft has pledged to go carbon negative by 2030. The technology giant also plans to remove all atmospheric carbon it has ever produced since founded in 1975.  The company will double its internal carbon fee to $15 per metric ton for sustainability technology investments.

Furniture giant IKEA also aims to be climate positive and only use renewable and recycled materials on their products by 2030. They will also use renewable energy sources and switch for a more plant-based menu in their cafeterias. 

But what about companies in Indonesia? Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) is as driven when it comes to making the planet a better place. The Riau-based pulp and paper producer recently announced APRIL2030, a set of commitments and concrete targets to support sustainable development and save the environment over the next decade. 

As hinted by the name, APRIL2030 is in support of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are also intended to be achieved by 2030. The APRIL2030 blueprint centers around four pillars, including climate positive. 

APRIL seeks to achieve net zero emissions from land use by optimizing carbon sequestration and storage across landscape types including peatland. They also aim to source 90 percent of their mill energy from renewable and clean energy sources. The same goes for half of their fiber operation energy.

By investing in science and technology, the company aims to reduce 25 percent in carbon emissions intensity of their fiber products. To this end, APRIL will install 20 megawatt solar panels at its operational sites starting in 2021. When completed in 2025, this will be one of the largest solar panels installed by the private sector in Indonesia.

“We are determined to ensure the next decade is one of action and further transformation for our company as we play our part to achieve a lower carbon economy and make a positive impact on climate, nature and people,” Anderson Tanoto, director of APRIL’s parent group Royal Golden Eagle, said.

According to the Environment and Forestry Ministry, APRIL2030 aligns with the government’s 2020-2024 medium-term national development plan.

“The private sector plays a key role in solving poverty issues, income increase, unemployment, forest protection, and the availability of raw materials to support the industry and a competitive market. APRIL 2030 is on the right momentum,” the ministry’s secretary general Bambang Hendroyono said.

Written by: Jayanti Nada Shofa for Jakarta Globe

A Better Planet Calls For Climate-Conscious Companies (jakartaglobe.id)

This report hopefully can contribute and offer a sound baseline to the continuing dialogue and engagement efforts among the tripartite partners. As Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director ILO Country Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste stated, human capital & skills development is key priority of the government, and linking this to the country’s sustainability goals is a timely contribution to ongoing implementation of Indonesia’s long-term development plans. The information herein can be used as a starting point for current discussions, to reinvigorate the interest among key stakeholders, who are actively charting the country’s transition to a greener economy.

Please find the report here: wcms_706947.pdf (ilo.org

Specifically, the achievements of the rayon fiber producers operating in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau Province are based on an assessment of work efficiency and effectiveness, traceability of the sources of raw materials used and the company’s ability to process big data from operational automation.

Inaugurated by President Joko Widodo in early 2020, the rayon fiber products produced by APR not only aim to meet national demand but also foreign countries, which in turn can contribute to the country’s foreign exchange. For those who are not familiar, rayon fiber is known as a sustainable textile raw material, which is biodegradable so it is more environmentally friendly.

With its operational center in Riau, the raw materials for rayon fiber produced by APR are all supplied from certified and traceable industrial plantations (HTI), and their management is guaranteed to be sustainable. This makes APR the first viscose-rayon plant in Indonesia to be recognized internationally for responsible manufacturing.

Basrie added that one form of application of industrial technology 4.0 is the implementation of traceability as a collaborative effort that involves multiple layers throughout the supply chain through APR’s Follow Our Fiber tracking platform launched in April 2019.

Read more here: https://kumparan.com/kumparanbisnis/raih-indi-4-0-asia-pacific-rayon-dukung-transformasi-industri-4-0-1ufgxxlitA0/full

One of the company’s plans to achieve this commitment target is to utilize renewable energy. It is planned that APRIL Group will start using solar electric panels with a total capacity of up to 20 MW.

Learn more by watching the video here: https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/market/20201118122908-19-202709/april2030-bantu-indonesia-kurangi-emisi-karbon

“Charting out a path to sustainability must be done actively, not reactively,” Anderson said in a press conference on Tuesday. He said that APRIL Group was committed to achieving up to 18 targets of four main categories on its list: climate, landscaping, inclusive progress and sustainable goals. “We are aligning ourselves to achieve a zero net emissions target from land use,” Anderson said, adding that the company aimed to reduce its overall carbon emissions intensity by 25 percent.

APRIL Group has set a target to have 90 percent of its mills and 50 percent of its fiber operations energy coming from renewable and clean sources. It also plans to build an on-grid solar panel to produce as much as 20 megawatts of electricity, with construction expected to start next year and the solar panels fully operating by 2025. “Once it is completed, it will be one of the largest solar panel installations constructed by a private company in Indonesia,” Anderson said. He said APRIL Group would double down on its production-protection landscape management by ensuring zero net loss of conservation and protected areas as well as reducing up to 80 percent of solid waste sent to landfill.

The company also recommitted its profits of at least US$1 per ton of plantation fibers it harvested to fund its annual US$10 million conservation and restoration programs. APRIL Group was committed to advancing tropical peatland science through its upcoming Eco-Research Camp in Kampar regency of Riau, which is expected to be a hub for peatland research. The construction is slated to finish by the end of this year, Anderson said.

Sihol Parulian Aritonang, the president director of PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (RAPP), a subsidiary of APRIL Group, said that APRIL 2030 was a way to support the Indonesian government’s commitment to reach its climate change mitigation goals as well as economic development. Since Indonesia embraced the SDGs adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, APRIL Group has taken up its sustainability policy framework that includes a commitment to stop deforestation. “As a responsible private sector, we want to participate. We launched [on Tuesday] our next 10-year commitment on how APRIL group positively contributes to climate [issues],” Sihol said.

This article was published here: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/11/17/april-group-
launches-one-decade-plan-to-reduce-emissions-support-sdgs.html.