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  • Overall approach
    3/10
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/4
      Overall commitment
      Commodity-specific commitment - commitment that does not apply to all of the commodities the company is exposed to
      0/4
      Which commodities does the commodity-specific commitment apply to?: Pulp & Paper

      Do they have a commitment for other non-Forest 500 commodities, if so which?: NA
      "All Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) companies in the forestry, fibre, pulp and paper sectors worldwide (henceforth: RGE Companies), including current and future companies which RGE Companies own, manage or invest regardless of stake...RGE Companies commit to eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, protecting the forest and peatland landscapes in which we operate, and supporting forest management best practices in all countries where we source timber."
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      If Other Initiative, specify:

      Which initiatives?: Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 partner; UN Global Compact
      "PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT. RAPP), the operating arm of APRIL Group, a leading producer of fibre, pulp and paper, was today awarded membership of the United Nations Global Compact Network (GCN) in Indonesia at a ceremony in Jakarta."[...]"It is a member of Tropical Forest Alliance 2020, a global public-private partnership that promotes sustainable, deforestation-free supply chains."
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "RGE promotes sustainable development and responsible forestry management, which includes the identification and protection of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF), [...] We uphold our principle of supporting conservation areas equal in size to our plantation areas. This helps revitalise native plant and wildlife species, and sustains long-term biodiversity and community life."
    • Deforestation as a business risk
      1/1
      Business risk
      Yes
      1/1
      Type of risk if Other. Also add any relevant details:

      What proportion of revenue that comes from relevant industries is exposed to each forest risk commodity?: NA

      What type of risk is recognised?: Reputational

      What revenue comes from industries relevant to each forest risk commodity?: NA

      What poportion of a company’s annual revenue depends on each forest risk commodity?: 45%
      "APRIL has 45 per cent of its long-term wood supply PEFC certified  PEFC is a globally recognized and accepted independent certification  Boosts global reputation of the Indonesian forestry sector; opens new markets for APRIL"
    • High-level management of deforestion
      0/1
    • Executive compensation linked to deforestation
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Disclosure of conservation activity
    • Disclosure of reforestation activity
      Reforestation disclosure
      Yes
      0/0
      How many hectares of reforestation or restoration are being or have been conducted or facilitated by the company?: 370,000ha
      "APRIL's Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP 2.0) governs its operations. It adopts the Production-Protection model of plantation, committing a 1-for-1 goal of conserving one hectare of forest for every hectare of plantation. It conserves 250,000 hectares of HCV forests and works with various stakeholders in a public-private partnership called Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER) to restore more than 150,000 hectares of ecologically vital peat forest in Indonesia’s Kampar Peninsula. A total of 370,000 hectares of forests are conserved and protected."
    • Target to reduce emissions in scope 1/2
  • Commodity score
    28/90
    • Palm oil
      44/90
      • Commitment Strength
        12/17
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          5/9.5
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Which certification schemes are used?: RSPO

            If other certification, specify: NA

            When was this commitment set?: 2014

            Does the company have a commitment to the protection of other specific named ecosystems?: HCS; Peat
            "Apical Advances Its Sustainability Commitment with Apical2030  Targets include collaborating with suppliers to achieve a 100% NDPE compliant supply chain by 2025"[...]Transformative Partnerships: Four targets aimed at collaborating with stakeholders along the supply chain to spur positive changes relating to No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) compliance, traceability and conservation. I. Collaborate with suppliers to achieve 100% NDPE compliant supply chain by 2025"[...]"Besides being a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC),"[...]"To further strengthen our sustainability efforts, I am excited to announce the launch of our new Asian Agri 2030 (AA2030) commitment. This bold ambition of ours is part of a pledge made together with the larger group of RGE companies to focus specifically on our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on our current efforts in line with our No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) policy."
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            What subsidiaries are explicitly included?: Apical ; Asian Agri

            If no, what is excluded?: Subsidiary

            What subsidiaries are explicitly excluded?: Royal Golden Eagle
            "Apical Advances Its Sustainability Commitment with Apical2030  Targets include collaborating with suppliers to achieve a 100% NDPE compliant supply chain by 2025"[...]Transformative Partnerships: Four targets aimed at collaborating with stakeholders along the supply chain to spur positive changes relating to No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) compliance, traceability and conservation. I. Collaborate with suppliers to achieve 100% NDPE compliant supply chain by 2025"[...]"To further strengthen our sustainability efforts, I am excited to announce the launch of our new Asian Agri 2030 (AA2030) commitment. This bold ambition of ours is part of a pledge made together with the larger group of RGE companies to focus specifically on our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on our current efforts in line with our No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) policy."
          • Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: not specified
            "To further strengthen our sustainability efforts, I am excited to announce the launch of our new Asian Agri 2030 (AA2030) commitment. This bold ambition of ours is part of a pledge made together with the larger group of RGE companies to focus specifically on our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on our current efforts in line with our No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) policy"
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2025
            "Transformative Partnerships: Four targets aimed at collaborating with stakeholders along the supply chain to spur positive changes relating to No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) compliance, traceability and conservation. I. Collaborate with suppliers to achieve 100% NDPE compliant supply chain by 2025"
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          8/7.5
          • Commitment details
            Traces to Point of production
            4/4
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Traces to Point of production
            4/4
            When was this commitment set?: 2015
            In their 2020 sustainability report Apical state that they aim to "Maintain 100% traceability to palm oil mills. Achieve 100% traceability to plantation by 2022". Originally Apical had aimed to achieve 100% TTP by 2020. Asian Agri also has a commitment to trace back to plantation level "we currently have full traceability for our plantations and smallholder partners, and continuously engage with third parties to provide assurance for our traceability system."
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            In their 2020 sustainability report Apical state that they aim to "Maintain 100% traceability to palm oil mills. Achieve 100% traceability to plantation by 2022". Originally Apical had aimed to achieve 100% TTP by 2020. Asian Agri also has a commitment to trace back to plantation level "we currently have full traceability for our plantations and smallholder partners, and continuously engage with third parties to provide assurance for our traceability system."
          • Target date
            2022
            1/1
            Target date
            2022
            1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: Implement traceability
            In their 2020 sustainability report Apical state that they aim to "Maintain 100% traceability to palm oil mills. Achieve 100% traceability to plantation by 2022". Originally Apical had aimed to achieve 100% TTP by 2020. Asian Agri also has a commitment to trace back to plantation level "we currently have full traceability for our plantations and smallholder partners, and continuously engage with third parties to provide assurance for our traceability system."
          • Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: current
            In their 2020 sustainability report Apical state that they aim to "Maintain 100% traceability to palm oil mills. Achieve 100% traceability to plantation by 2022". Originally Apical had aimed to achieve 100% TTP by 2020. Asian Agri also has a commitment to trace back to plantation level "we currently have full traceability for our plantations and smallholder partners, and continuously engage with third parties to provide assurance for our traceability system."
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        8/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1

          Details of commitment: ILO; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association

          Other workers' rights commitments: Guaranteed safe and healthy workspaces
          "Responsible Practices in Our Work Places RGE Companies embrace their corporate responsibility to respect human rights. RGE Companies are committed to provide a safe, productive and conducive work environment throughout their supply chains where employees can contribute and advance, by ensuring specifically that: International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is respected Recruitment best practices are in place, meeting all legal requirements and cultural practices Freedom of association is respected Diversity within its workforce is respected Accommodation is safe and hygienic if provided as part of employment package The health and safety of workers is protected. RGE companies and their suppliers/sub-contractors shall equip workers to protect them from exposure to occupational health and safety hazards No tolerance is given for child labour, forced labour or bonded labour No tolerance is given for discrimination, harassment and abuse in any form"
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          2/2
          Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          2/2
          What is the nature of that support?: Technical assistance/support

          How many smallholders do they support, and what percentage does this represent in terms of their sourcing from smallholders?: 30,000
          "Of its 160,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, 60,000 are developed under the Plasma scheme, a national level project supporting smallholders. Asian Agri partners with more than 30,000 smallholder families as well as independent smallholders, bringing about positive impact on their quality of life and economic development."
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          1/2
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          0.5/2
          Apical: "We are also committed to prevent employment and occupation-related discrimination based on gender. This applies within our operation and supply chain. Our commitment is to ensure that all workers are paid at least the minimum wage and this applies to all suppliers as well." [...] Asian Agri has a commitment to "gender equality an protection of women workers" this policy applies to their suppliers.
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes, the company commits to test for FPIC prior to acquiring new interests, developments, or expansions
          2/3
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes, the company commits to test for FPIC prior to acquiring new interests, developments, or expansions
          2/3
          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1
          "Asian Agri respects the rights of communities to give or withhold their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for the use of their lands. We always conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and actively engage the community. We have developed a system where complaints and concerns from the community can be addressed in a timely, transparent and responsible manner."[...]"Respect and recognize the rights of indigenous and local communities to give or withhold their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to the utilization of lands to which they hold legal, communal or customary"[...]"Respect of the rights of indigenous peoples and communities to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) to operate on lands where they hold legal, communal or customary rights"
        • Commitment to resolve land conflicts
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        25/56
        • Reporting volumes against commitments
          Unclear reporting on progress/non-quantifiable reporting on progress
          1/3
          Reporting volumes against commitments
          Unclear reporting on progress/non-quantifiable reporting on progress
          0.5/3
          What is the compliant volume?: 3%

          Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No

          How much of this downstream deforestation is in protected areas, primary forests, intact forest landscapes, and/or peatlands?: NA

          How many hectares of deforestation and/or conversion have occurred since the commitment cut-off date on land owned, controlled, or managed by the company?: NA

          What is the certified volume?: 221,780 Metric Tonnes

          How much of this upstream deforestation is in protected areas, primary forests, intact forest landscapes, and/or peatlands?: NA

          How many hectares of land owned, controlled or managed is certified?: NA

          How many hectares of deforestation and/or conversion have occurred since the commitment cut-off date in the operations of the company's direct or indirect suppliers?: NA

          What is the non-certified/non-compliant volume?: 7,139,539 Metric Tonnes

          What is the volume with unknown deforestation/conversion risk? Disaggregated by product type or use as relevant.: NA

          What is the proportion of total commodity volume sourced with known deforestation/conversion risk?: NA
          In 2020 Apical "maintained 100% traceability to palm oil mills [...] 99.28% traceability to plantation for three of our facilities" Originally Apical had aimed to achieve 100% TTP by 2020. Asian Agri also has a commitment to trace back to plantation level "we currently have full traceability for our plantations and smallholder partners, and continuously engage with third parties to provide assurance for our traceability system."
        • Reporting is independently verified
          Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme
          2/2
          Reporting is independently verified
          Yes, using a third-party verification scheme or certification scheme
          2/2
          What methods are used for verification?: RSPO

          Is the performance of compliance of some suppliers, sources, or origins not verified, and if so why not?: NA

          For what percent of the company's supply volume is third-party verification of performance relative to commitments conducted?: NA

          What percent of the company's supply volume is verified using company verification systems?: NA

          Which tools, approaches, third-party verification, including certification, schemes are used?: RSPO

          Which processes or groups does the company use for third party verification?: RSPO
          Apical is a "member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), "
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          Yes, required
          3/3
          Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          Yes, required
          3/3
          "Apical’s suppliers are required to comply with our Sustainability and Sourcing policies – we emphasise this within the terms and conditions of our commercial arrangement. Apical ensures the commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption is abided by their suppliers through the Code of Procurement Ethics (COPE)"[...]Asian Agri - "we will ensure that our suppliers comply with the above commitments, local laws and regulations."
        • Deforestation cut off date
          Yes, for partial sourcing regions/operations
          1/2
          Deforestation cut off date
          Yes, for partial sourcing regions/operations
          1/2
          What cut-off date is specified?: December 2015
          Apical have "With a cut-off date of after December 2015, we proactively engage our suppliers to ensure they adopt similar commitments on no deforestation in their businesses. "
        • Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          What is the nature of that participation?: Attending & contributing to meetings; Providing support/ advice/ experience/ expertise

          What initiatives does the company participate in?: The Forest Trust, Proforest and Daemete
          "The Group promotes the protection of high conservation value (HCV) and high carbon stock (HCS) areas, peatland and towards positive socio-economic development. Its sustainability partners include The Forest Trust, Proforest and Daemeter to ensure responsible sourcing, integration and continuous improvement to its supply chain transformation. Apical is committed to sustainable operations as the fundamental principle of its business to deliver high value products for today’s global market demands."
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          For what percentage of material produced or sourced by the company has forest risk been assessed?: NA

          How frequently are assessments conducted?: Unspecified
          "In line with our Sustainability Policy, prior to any replanting, we conduct relevant assessments including HCV assessments, peatland mapping and Social and Environmental Impact Assessments. We also develop and implement conservation and management plans."[...]"As part of our Suppliers Self-Assessment (SFA), we ensure our suppliers conduct independent HCV assessment, in which the independent HCV assessments will be peer reviewed by the ALS licensed assessors who are technical members of the HCV Resource Network."
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
          4/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
          4/4
          What is the nature of the grievance mechanism used by the company?: Own mechanism

          Which issues does the grievance mechanism cover?: Social; Environmental
          "Asian Agri is committed to responding quickly and constructively to any grievance raised against any of our own operations or our suppliers, and to report them publicly. We develop a robust grievance procedure to resolve all verifiable complaints and conflicts with all related stakeholders such as land conflicts, social conflicts, human right issues, labor issues, etc." Asian Agri have a list of grievances."[...]"To ensure that the standards set out in our policies are being adhered to we have set up a robust grievance handling process for all stakeholders to raise concerns related to our business or suppliers. All grievances raised are dealt with in a transparent and accountable manner. The grievance process is managed and implemented by our Grievance Steering Committee (GSC), Grievance Secretariat, Stakeholder Engagement Team and Verification Team."
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Reporting partial volumes
          2/3
          Report volumes of commodity
          Reporting partial volumes
          1.5/3
          What product types/sectors is this in?: Palm Oil

          Reporting non-certified/non-compliant volume: 7,139,539 Metric Tonnes

          Reporting certified/compliant volume: 221,780 Metric Tonnes

          What is the non-DCF commodity volume sourced from known production areas, and proportion of total supply chain volume this represents?: NA

          Total volume: 7361319 Metric Tonnes
          Apical report volumes in their 2020 Sustainability Report (these are volumes used) and Asian Agri report overall volume in their 2021 Sustainability Report - 131,951 MT CPKO
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
          No
          0/5
        • Compliance of company-owned operations
          No
          0/5
        • Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
          Yes
          4/4
          Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
          Yes
          4/4
          How does the company remedy adverse social and environmental impacts linked to their operations and/or supply chains?: NA

          For what percentage of production units has an ESIA been carried out as part of the land use planning process?: NA
          Asian-Agri: "To ensure the long-term protection of these conservation areas, aligned with our sustainability commitment, we have conducted required assessments such as HCV/HCS integrated assessment, Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (SEIAs) "[...]"To meet our conservation targets, we rely on results of our HCV/ HCS integrated assessment, peatland mapping and SEIAs"[...]"...our refineries are all located in designated industrial zones which have been subjected to an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)."
        • Upstream: Reporting production/processing locations
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          Yes, report direct suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          Yes, report direct suppliers
          2/4
          For what percent of smallholder suppliers is location disclosed?: NA

          For what percent of suppliers' production areas are point locations disclosed?: 100%

          From what country(ies) does the company source material?: Indonesia

          Does the company disclose location of suppliers' production areas or primary processing sites?: Yes

          From what sub-national jurisdiction(s) does the company source material?: Aceh; North Sumatra; West Sumatra; South Sumatra; Riau; Jambi; Bangka Belitung; Bengkulu; West Kalimantan; Central Kalimantan; South Kalimantan; North Kalimantan; East Kalimantan; West Java; West Sulawesi; South Sulawesi; Central Sulawesi; Southeast Sulawesi; Central Sulawesi

          What type of location data (boundary, point, etc.) is provided for smallholder farms?: NA

          What is the volume of each forest risk commodity that the company sourced in the previous year from each national or subnational location?: NA

          For what percent are boundaries disclosed?: 0%

          For what percent is no location data disclosed?: 0%
          Apical provide a supply chain map with the mill name, company name, latitude and longitude and certification of their suppliers. "Apical does not own any upstream assets such as plantations and mills"
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
          No
          0/4
          Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
          No
          0/4
          Does the company use a jurisdictional monitoring mechanism?: No

          Does the company use a certification system?: No
        • Upstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: NA

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: NA

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: NA
          "The PSEP is designed to assess our high-risk suppliers prioritised through our Mill Prioritisation Process. The assessment criteria include suppliers' level of compliance with Apical Sustainability Policy as well as relevant industry standards"[...]"Apical conducts field visits for suppliers identified for PSEP...we provide detailed guidance on the development of Standard Operating Procedures and sustainability management systems. Conducted 45 PSEP visits since 2015 to improve compliance. After the PSEP visits proactively maintain working relationships to ensure recommended action plans are implemented".[...]"Apical uses GIS to monitor the movement of palm oil through our supply network...Apical uses Global Forest Watch Pro...which has several alert systems that identify new forest clearings in real time...our sustainability team receives alerts periodically".
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Suspend suppliers, engage to bring into compliance, and reintroduce to the supply chain
          2/2
          Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Suspend suppliers, engage to bring into compliance, and reintroduce to the supply chain
          2/2
          Does the company engage non-compliant indirect suppliers in order to address and remedy non-compliance?: Yes

          Does the company work with the non-compliant supplier to develop an implementation plan to remedy associated harms or non-compliance?: Yes

          What criteria does the policy specify for blacklisting or exclusion?: failure to comply with NDPE after suspension

          What type of support does the company offer to its suppliers to help them achieve compliance with commitments?: Various Anchor Programmes = action plans, workshops,

          Does the company commit to engage with rightsholders, Indigenous peoples and local communities when developing the implementation plan?: No
          Apical: "suppliers who are suspended are required to provide clear evidence of compliance with our NDPE commitments and grievance resolution for re-inclusion into our supply chain"
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          Yes, engaged
          1/2
          Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          Yes, engaged
          1/2
          Does the company have a list of blacklisted or otherwise excluded suppliers or producers?: No

          How many noncompliant producers or suppliers are engaged through improvement plans or other processes, and what percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: NA
          Both Apical and Asian Agri have a publicly available list of grievances.
    • Pulp & Paper
      36/90
      • Commitment Strength
        13/17
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          8/9.5
          • Commitment details
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Zero-gross deforestation
            4/6
            What paper/pulp product does their commitment apply to?: Paper products; Pulp; Packaging

            When was this commitment set?: 2015
            "Effective immediately (2 June 2015), RGE Companies are committed to sustainability practices as spelled out in the following Sustainability Framework."[...]"RGE Companies commit to eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, protecting the forest and peatland landscapes in which we operate, and supporting forest management best practices in all countries where we source timber."
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            "Effective immediately (2 June 2015), RGE Companies are committed to sustainability practices as spelled out in the following Sustainability Framework."[...]"RGE Companies commit to eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, protecting the forest and peatland landscapes in which we operate, and supporting forest management best practices in all countries where we source timber."
          • Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: Support best practice
            "Effective immediately (2 June 2015), RGE Companies are committed to sustainability practices as spelled out in the following Sustainability Framework."[...]"RGE Companies commit to eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, protecting the forest and peatland landscapes in which we operate, and supporting forest management best practices in all countries where we source timber."
          • Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: NA
            "Effective immediately (2 June 2015), RGE Companies are committed to sustainability practices as spelled out in the following Sustainability Framework."[...]"RGE Companies commit to eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, protecting the forest and peatland landscapes in which we operate, and supporting forest management best practices in all countries where we source timber."
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          6/7.5
          • Commitment details
            Traces to Point of production
            4/4
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Traces to Point of production
            4/4
            When was this commitment set?: NA
            "APRIL has a robust Chain of Custody (CoC) tracking system and mill wood sourcing monitoring system to ensure all the wood is traceable back to source."
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            What subsidiaries are explicitly included?: APRIL

            What subsidiaries are explicitly excluded?: Asia Symbol

            What is the rationale for any exclusions?: NA

            What percentage of commodity production/sourcing is excluded?: NA

            If no, what is excluded?: Subsidiary
            "APRIL has a robust Chain of Custody (CoC) tracking system and mill wood sourcing monitoring system to ensure all the wood is traceable back to source."
          • Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            Target date
            Current/achieved
            1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: NA
            "APRIL has a robust Chain of Custody (CoC) tracking system and mill wood sourcing monitoring system to ensure all the wood is traceable back to source."
          • Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            NA (target date current or achieved or 2023)
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: Current
            "APRIL has a robust Chain of Custody (CoC) tracking system and mill wood sourcing monitoring system to ensure all the wood is traceable back to source."
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        8/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Other workers' rights commitments: Guaranteed safe and healthy workspaces

          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1

          Details of commitment: ILO; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association
          "Responsible Practices in Our Work Places RGE Companies embrace their corporate responsibility to respect human rights. RGE Companies are committed to provide a safe, productive and conducive work environment throughout their supply chains where employees can contribute and advance, by ensuring specifically that: International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is respected Recruitment best practices are in place, meeting all legal requirements and cultural practices Freedom of association is respected Diversity within its workforce is respected Accommodation is safe and hygienic if provided as part of employment package The health and safety of workers is protected. RGE companies and their suppliers/sub-contractors shall equip workers to protect them from exposure to occupational health and safety hazards No tolerance is given for child labour, forced labour or bonded labour No tolerance is given for discrimination, harassment and abuse in any form"
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          2/2
          Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          2/2
          How many smallholders do they support, and what percentage does this represent in terms of their sourcing from smallholders?: NA

          What is the nature of that support?: Technical assistance/support
          "APRIL will continually seek opportunities to consult and align with the interests of communities and create shared value through: Inclusion of smallholders/Small Medium Enterprises (SME) into APRIL’s supply chains, where appropriate"
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to ensure equality of women in the supply chain
          1/2
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to ensure equality of women in the supply chain
          1/2
          "ADVANCE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN We will ensure women’s effective participation and equal opportunities for advancement."
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes, the company commits to test for FPIC prior to acquiring new interests, developments, or expansions
          2/3
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes, the company commits to test for FPIC prior to acquiring new interests, developments, or expansions
          2/3
          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: Tier 1
          "RGE Companies respect the rights of indigenous peoples and rural communities and are committed to the following: Respect of the rights of indigenous peoples and communities to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) to operate on lands where they hold legal, communal or customary rights"
        • Commitment to resolve land conflicts
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        15/56
        • Reporting volumes against commitments
          Unclear reporting on progress/non-quantifiable reporting on progress
          0/3
          Reporting volumes against commitments
          Unclear reporting on progress/non-quantifiable reporting on progress
          0/3
          How much of this downstream deforestation is in protected areas, primary forests, intact forest landscapes, and/or peatlands?: NA

          How many hectares of deforestation and/or conversion have occurred since the commitment cut-off date on land owned, controlled, or managed by the company?: NA

          What is the compliant volume?: NA

          How much of this upstream deforestation is in protected areas, primary forests, intact forest landscapes, and/or peatlands?: NA

          How many hectares of land owned, controlled or managed is certified?: NA

          Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No

          What is the certified volume?: NA

          What is the non-certified/non-compliant volume?: NA

          What is the volume with unknown deforestation/conversion risk? Disaggregated by product type or use as relevant.: NA

          How many hectares of deforestation and/or conversion have occurred since the commitment cut-off date in the operations of the company's direct or indirect suppliers?: NA

          What is the proportion of total commodity volume sourced with known deforestation/conversion risk?: NA
        • Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          Yes, required
          3/3
          Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          Yes, required
          3/3
          "All provisions in this Sustainability Framework apply without exception to:All Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) companies in the forestry, fibre, pulp and paper sectors worldwide (henceforth: RGE Companies), including current and future companies which RGE Companies own, manage or invest regardless of stake;All third-party fibre, wood and pulp suppliers to RGE Companies."
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          Risk assessments for forest risk
          Yes
          2/2
          For what percentage of material produced or sourced by the company has forest risk been assessed?: 100%

          How frequently are assessments conducted?: Not specified
          "Effective immediately, RGE Companies will enforce a moratorium on any further natural forest clearance pending the outcome of High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments. This moratorium will also apply to all thirdparty Indonesian wood suppliers to RGE Companies."[...]"RGE Companies and their third-party Indonesian wood suppliers are committed to protecting forests of HCS and HCV, by ensuring specifically that they:Only develop areas that are not forested, as identified through independent HCS and HCV assessments"
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
          4/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes, and published details of any grievances within the last two years (2019-2021)
          4/4
          What is the nature of the grievance mechanism used by the company?: Own mechanism

          Which issues does the grievance mechanism cover?: Social; Environmental
          Royal Golden Eagle states that "RGE Companies will establish a Grievance Procedure to allow stakeholders to register any issues or complaints, and for RGE Companies to transparently respond and report on progress" [...] "APRIL has established a grievance mechanism with resolution procedures that is accessible and open to all stakeholders, internal and external, who may be adversely impacted by APRIL. The grievance mechanism allows stakeholders to raise any concerns, complaints or issues related to APRIL operations and those of our suppliers. Independent evaluators and investigators will be involved if needed. Local communities and stakeholders are kept informed of the channels open to raise concerns and disputes. Potential concerns may be related to forestry practices, businessrelated human rights, community impacts, and manufacturing processes. [...] There were no incoming grievances registered in 2021. Our historical records of the grievances received including grievance tracking are publicly available on APRIL’s sustainability dashboard and it can be accessed here."
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Reporting partial volumes
          2/3
          Report volumes of commodity
          Reporting partial volumes
          1.5/3
          Reporting certified/compliant volume: NA

          Total volume: 9301887 Metric Tonnes

          What product types/sectors is this in?: Paper, Viscose

          Reporting non-certified/non-compliant volume: NA

          What is the non-DCF commodity volume sourced from known production areas, and proportion of total supply chain volume this represents?: NA
          In April Asia's 2021 Sustainability Report - "In 2021, we produced a total of 2,868,525 tonnes of pulp and 1,103,362 tonnes of paper. 91% of the production of pulp and paper involved the use of renewable materials for year 2021"[...]"Asia Symbol is a leading producer of pulp and paper established in China in 2005. Using renewable fibre that is sourced responsibly, Asia Symbol has an annual production of 2 million tons of pulp, 1 million tons of fine paper and 530,000 tons of paper board at its plants in Shandong (Rizhao) and Guangdong (Xinhui) provinces in China."[...]"Sateri is the world’s largest producer of viscose fibre, a natural biodegradable raw material found in everyday items like textiles, wet wipes and personal hygiene products. Its six mills in China collectively produce about 1.8 million tonnes of viscose fibre yearly."
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
          No
          0/5
        • Compliance of company-owned operations
          No
          0/5
        • Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
          No
          0/4
        • Upstream: Reporting production/processing locations
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          No
          0/4
          Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          No
          0/4
          Does the company disclose location of suppliers' production areas or primary processing sites?: No

          For what percent of smallholder suppliers is location disclosed?: NA
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
          Yes, using an internal verification system
          4/4
          Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
          Yes, using an internal verification system
          4/4
          How frequently is compliance assessed?: unclear

          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: na

          If so, what jurisdictions and mechanisms does the company use?: legality certification – IFCC-PEFC, Pengelolaan Hutan Produksi Lestari (PHPL), or Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK), patrols,

          For what percentage of production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages, or otherwise controls does the company use external processes or actors, such as certification, to monitor compliance?: na

          Does the company use a jurisdictional monitoring mechanism?: Yes

          Does the company use a certification system?: Yes

          What tools, processes, bodies carry out monitoring of the company's production or processing operations?: legality certification – IFCC-PEFC, Pengelolaan Hutan Produksi Lestari (PHPL), or Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK), patrols,

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: na
          "RGE Companies will plan and implement regular monitoring and reporting of progress in a transparent manner. Where appropriate, RGE Companies will invite relevant stakeholders to participate in a verification process." [...]April Asia's compliance policy: "in 2021, APRIL received a total wood supply of 14,546,184 M3 covered by timber legality certification – IFCC-PEFC, Pengelolaan Hutan Produksi Lestari (PHPL), or Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK). Compliance to these thirdparty verification and certification systems and Indonesia’s legality system is part of our commitment to only source from responsible sources. [...] APRIL is committed to protecting our plantation forests from fire or any other risk of loss of timber or damage. Our landscape planning work supports our commitments to manage the land responsibly. Various measures are in place to protect forest areas, including production, conservation and restoration areas, from illegal activities. They include land cover change monitoring, security patrols, community engagement and boundary demarcation. Patrols are conducted to identify any illegal activity. Activities that infringe the law or our policies are recorded by our patrol team along with the details of the entity that conducted the misdeeds and the location coordinates of the activity. Breaches of law or regulations are reported to the relevant authorities."
        • Upstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: Unspecified

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: NA

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: NA
          "RGE Companies will plan and implement regular monitoring and reporting of progress in a transparent manner. Where appropriate, RGE Companies will invite relevant stakeholders to participate in a verification process."
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          1/2
          Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          1/2
          What type of support does the company offer to its suppliers to help them achieve compliance with commitments?: NA

          Does the company commit to engage with rightsholders, Indigenous peoples and local communities when developing the implementation plan?: No

          What criteria does the policy specify for blacklisting or exclusion?: Violation of sustainability framework

          Does the company work with the non-compliant supplier to develop an implementation plan to remedy associated harms or non-compliance?: No

          Does the company engage non-compliant indirect suppliers in order to address and remedy non-compliance?: No
          "RGE Companies will cease to do business with any suppliers whom our independent advisors or other stakeholders find are in serious violation of this Framework, and do not take immediate remedial action to correct those violations. Regardless of remedial action, we will not do business with serious repeat violators of the Framework."
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
    • Soy
      3/90
      • Commitment Strength
        0/17
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          0/9.5
          • Commitment details
            No commitment
            0/6
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            Post 2050 or no target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/7.5
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            Post 2050 or no target date
            0/1
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.5
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        3/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Other workers' rights commitments: Guaranteed safe and healthy workspaces

          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: All tiers

          Details of commitment: ILO; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association
          "RGE Companies embrace their corporate responsibility to respect human rights. RGE Companies are committed to provide a safe, productive and conducive work environment throughout their supply chains where employees can contribute and advance, by ensuring specifically that:International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is respected...Freedom of association is respectedDiversity within its workforce is respected...No tolerance is given for child labour, forced labour or bonded labourNo tolerance is given for discrimination, harassment and abuse in any form."
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/2
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/2
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/3
        • Commitment to resolve land conflicts
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        0/56
        • Reporting volumes against commitments
          No disclosure
          0/3
          Reporting volumes against commitments
          No disclosure
          0/3
          Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No
        • Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/3
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance with human rights
          No
          0/5
        • Compliance of company-owned operations
          No
          0/5
        • Upstream: Impact assessments for land development/acquisition
          No
          0/4
        • Upstream: Reporting production/processing locations
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Upstream: Monitor compliance of production/processing
          No
          0/4
        • Upstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
  • Commitment strength
    8/17
    Avg. score
  • Implementation and Reporting
    13/56
    Avg. score
  • Associated Human Rights Abuses
    6/17
    Avg. score

Profile

Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) is a holding company with interests in natural resources and manufacturing, operating around the world. Its businesses include pulp and paper, palm oil, specialty fibres, and energy. The group’s two pulp and paper subsidiaries, APRIL and Asia Symbol, together produce about 4.6 million metric tons of pulp and more than 1.7 million metric tons of paper products, making it one of the major producers in Indonesia. Asian Agri and Apical, its palm oil subsidiaries, have more than 160,000 hectares of palm oil landbank and an annual refinery capacity of 3.7 million metric tons. RGE is also one of the top importers and exporters of palm oil in Indonesia. Royal Golden Eagle is selected as a powerbroker for palm oil, soy and pulp & paper.

Sector
Industry sector 
Agricultural Products, Forest Products, Trading Companies & Distributors
Segments
Producer, Trader, Processor, Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
Singapore
Company Type
Company type 
CO
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.