"It's disappointing and the first time I have come across it in all my work with NGOs," said Arian Ardie, APP's director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement. 

"We have always been able to communicate with groups before," he said. 

With regard to WWF's withdrawal of support in February this year (PrintWeek, 26 February), Ardie said he did not feel there had been a clear consensus among all WWF organisations for constructive engagement. 

"Several of these chapters are under intense pressure not to deal with us," he said. Debt-ridden Indonesian giant APP and WWF signed an agreement in August last year which effectively gave APP six months to draft an action plan to improve its environmental record. 

The agreement expired on 19 February, with WWF rejecting the company's plan. However, Ardie said he felt APP was a better company having embarked on its Sustainability Action Plan, one that the company remained committed to. 

"We have learned a tremendous amount about stakeholder engagement."  

Ardie said the company was determined to achieve sustainability, not only to feed its mills, but also to sell into the value-added market. Independent bodies are currently conducting assessments for conservation development, wood tracking and chain-of-custody.

Story by Andy Scott