What is FSC^®Corner (FSC-C119477)

The Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC) is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 that promotes responsible management of the world's forests. It is It is an international certification and labeling system that guarantees that paper and wood products carrying the FSC label come from an environmentally and socially responsible source.

Principles of FSC

• Compliance with Laws and FSC Principles
• Tenure and Use Rights and Responsibilities
• Indigenous Peoples' Rights
• Community Relations and Worker's Rights
• Benefits from the Forest
• Environmental Impact
• Management Plan
• Monitoring and Assessment
• Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests
• Plantations.

FSC Certificates

FSC Milestones

FSC^® FM Public Summary 2023

Background

Andhra Paper Limited has been one of the pioneers in the shifting of focus from natural forest to Farm Forestry. It not only proved to be a catalyst in reduction of deforestation, thereby increasing the green cover overall, but it also worked as a boon in the life of farming community by providing them a strong, safe and stable alternate livelihood, especially in the areas predominated by barren and non-fertile soils. APL is highly thankful and grateful to all the stakeholders who have shown interest towards company's activities. It has also been one of the few stewards in the country to be awarded FSC^®certificate in its own name. It acquired the coveted FSC FM certificate in 2014.

Area

In the year 2023, in 1st Surveillance Audit Andhra Paper Limited (APL) has divided its plantation area into three zones instead of earlier five & four zones. The current zones name is Rajahmundry, Visakha & Krishna & Khammam. From 2nd Surveillance Audit Andhra Paper Limited(APL) has divided its plantation area into four zones instead of five zones. By the year 2017, FarmForestry initiative of APL spread to Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari, Khammam, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasham and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana State. Further districts may be added after due assessments of wood procurement potential and feasibility for the Mill, as and when the need is felt.The program provides a means of survival for the small farmers, and improves the socio-eco nomic status of their communities. In return, APLattempts to source its raw materials in form of pulpwood in a sustainable and responsible forest management.

Species addition

Earlier APL was focusing only on Casuarina spp. in its FSC FM certification. However, in 2016, before the 2nd Surveillance Audit, the company took a step forward and added Subabul and Eucalyptus spp. in the certificate.APLthencovered considerable areas of both Subabul and Eucalyptus to spread awareness and establish FSC FM principles and their benefits to the concerned farming communities.

In the year 2022-23, APL has distributed quality sapling of 400.37 lakhto farmer beneficiaries and thus aided in development of4,749ha of pulpwood plantations.

The detail of these beneficiaries as follows:

Procurement of FSC-100% Wood

Harvesting has already been undertaken in the plantations of year 2009-2020. For total of 19,93,665Mt. of FSC-100% wood has been procured till 31st July,2023.The percentage of FSC 100% wood over total procurementdetails are as follows:

Rolling of Long Term Fiber Sustainability plan

By the end of 2017, APL finalized and rolled out its long term fiber sustainability plan looking towards the volatile Indian market of pulpwood and the demand and supply imbalances and its consequence on the business. After rounds of discussions across different levels in the Organization, a few major way forwards have been decided and work began:

1. Bring in the entire annually required wood source within 150 km radius of the Company by extensive promotion.

2. Intense focus on R&D (in-house and external agency tie up) for continually emerging superior clones and seed sources for the benefit of farmer and reduction in production, cultivation and harvesting expenditure.

Towards this vision, the action began already in 2018 and new generation clones have arrived and being produced in commercial scale.

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)

The Company has a well-defined CSR strategy which is transparent and consistent. The activities are broadly placed under 3 sectors: Health & Wellness, Education and Community Engagement.

Health &Wellness:

Under this sector two kinds of activities are carried out

i. strengthening the public health systems by supporting local government hospitals infrastructure and equipment needs

ii. ii. providing safe drinking water to the communities living around the mills at Rajahmundry &Kadiyam.

Education: Under this sector the major activities are

i. Support to government school students to perform better in academics and provide infrastructure and material support to government schools

ii. Scholarships to meritorious students in government high schools to encourage further studies

iii. Skilling of women and youth.

Community Engagement: Under this sector the major activities are

i. Volunteering by employees

ii. Creating awareness on important development related issues.

At Andhra Paper Limited, community relations and participation in development of communities is an important aspect for not just the CSR team but the entire leadership team. Caring for the communities is part of the DNA of the company and is a trait that flows top down.

The Company have CSR policy which is list of CSR projects are basically focus on Educations, promoting gender equality, sustainability, resource funding allocation, powers for approval, execution agency/partner & criterial for identifying the executing agency. For more information, please click the below link

For more information, please click the below link.

CSRPolicy.pdf (andhrapaper.com)

All above information is true as per APL management. Stakeholders and general public can verify the above information at APLhead office as well in Zonal offices.