Apical Buzz Issue 2 - July 2023

Apical Completes the Initial Phase of its Oleochemicals Industry Integration Project in Taixing

Apical is building China’s largest oleochemical industry integration project in Taixing, Jiangsu province. The project will produce high-quality oleochemical products from sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are widely used in personal care, household, industrial and biofuel applications. The project has completed its first phase with a 500,000 tons annual production capacity our of its total 600,000tons annual production capacity, and it focuses on the production of fatty acids, hydrogenated oil, oleic acid, glycerine, and related products. The Apical Taixing Project, supported by RGE , aims to spearhead developments in the oleochemical industry in China.

For more information, visit https://www.apicalgroup.com/articles/apical-oleochemicals-taixing-produces-first-batch-of-lauric-acid/

Apical Celebrates World Milk Day by Empowering Farmers and Nurturing Communities

On World Milk Day, Apical went the extra mile to empower farmers and give back to the community. Through its animal nutrition range, Optymax, Apical helps farmers enhance milk yields and maintain productivity, enabling them to thrive in the competitive dairy market.?

Additionally, in partnership with Tanoto Foundation , Apical promotes community well-being by providing nutritious milk to children in need. By focusing on animal nutrition and supporting community clinics, Apical contributes to the sustainable growth of the dairy industry and ensures the health and happiness of local communities.?

Learn more at https://www.apicalgroup.com/articles/apical-celebrates-world-milk-day-by-empowering-farmers-and-nurturing-communities/

Improving Smallholders Livelihood through the SMILE Programme

Meet Khairul Anam, Head of Koperasi Konsumen Tebing Tinggi Pangkatan Sejahtera. Before joining the SMallholder Inclusion for better Livelihood & Empowerment (SMILE) Programme by Apical, Kao Corporation , and Asian Agri in 2020, he struggled with outdated farming techniques, yielding only one tonne FFB per hectare.?

Thanks to the program, Khairul acquired essential skills and knowledge on sustainable farming practices. Now, he proudly harvests almost 2.5 FFB tonnes per hectare. SMILE focuses on teaching smallholders sustainable methods, including responsible fertilizer use, soil conservation, and efficient water management, helping them improve their livelihoods and achieve internationally recognised sustainability certification like Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) .?

Khairul's success story has inspired countless others to join the programme. The cooperative grew from 239 members to 580 members in just one year.

Learn more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sus_2xfku9Y

Apical Organises Bazaars Educate Consumers and MSMEs about Affordable and Healthy Cooking Oil

Apical actively participates in the Minyakita initiative, aligning with its commitment to sustainability and community empowerment. Through organising nationwide cooking oil bazaars, Apical educates consumers about healthy cooking oil and stabilises prices. By promoting awareness of government-mandated prices, the initiative empowers consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Apical ensures transparency by establishing an email-reporting centre for monitoring prices. Collaborating with the Indonesian government, Apical supports local communities, fostering the domestic cooking oil industry and ensuring affordable access. This partnership benefits lower-income households, improving health and economic well-being.

Apical's dedication to social and environmental responsibility positions them as a catalyst for positive change in Indonesia's development.

Join the Minyakita movement for affordable cooking oil at https://www.apicalgroup.com/articles/revive-the-surakartas-smes-apical-and-hipmi-hold-fried-feast-at-surakarta-city-hall/

Apical releases 2022 Sustainability Report

We are excited to announce that Apical Group has recently released its 7th Sustainability Report (SR2022). This year's report highlights our continuous commitment to sustainability; which is at the heart of our operations. Our recently launched sustainability roadmap, Apical2030, is central to this report. Fuelled by our unwavering commitment towards achieving our 2030 goals, we are thrilled to share our latest progress and achievements under each of our four strategic pillars in the 2022 Sustainability Report: Fostering Inclusivity at https://www.apicalgroup.com/resource-library/sustainability-report-2022/

Apical and Tanoto Foundation Donate Reading Corner to Elementary School in Marunda

Apical Group in collaboration with the Tanoto Foundation , donated a Reading Corner to SDN 02 Marunda, Cilincing District, North Jakarta. Yudhi Damri, Manager of SSL & GA Apical Marunda, and Margaretha Ari Widowati, Director of Basic Education of Tanoto Foundation, hand over bookshelves and over 200 reading books to the Head of the Cilincing District Education Implementation Unit, Sujaelani.

This initiative aims to promote literacy and education in the areas surrounding Apical's operations. Apical continues its efforts by establishing Reading Corners and providing books to support the government's education enhancement program.

Learn more at https://www.apicalgroup.com/articles/increase-the-reading-interest-apical-hands-over-the-reading-corner-to-elementary-school-in-marunda/

Apical Plants 3,000 Mangrove Trees in Jakarta as Part of its Commitment to Sustainability

Apical Group launched a sustainable environmental initiative, reaffirming its commitment to preserving and restoring vital ecosystems. In Jakarta, Apical planted 3,000 mangrove trees in June-July 2023, underscoring its Apical2030 commitment to sustainable practices and a greener future.?

Apical's tree-planting programme reflects its dedication to sustainability throughout the palm oil value chain. With Indonesia hosting 20% of the world's mangroves, these ecosystems play a critical role in coastal preservation and habitat for marine species.

Amidst alarming mangrove loss, Apical's ongoing tree-planting efforts exemplify its determination to protect the environment. Having planted 12,000 trees, Apical plans to plant another 20,000, making a significant impact on combating deforestation and climate change.

Apical Helps Prevent Stunting with Supplementary Food in Solok Baru

Apical continues to fight stunting in Solok Baru by giving supplementary food (PMT) to toddlers who are at risk. This is part of a joint agreement (MoU) with the Health Office and the Office of Women's Empowerment, Child Protection and Family Planning in Balikpapan since March 2023. Stunting is a serious problem caused by malnutrition that affects children’s height and brain development. It needs to be prevented early so that children can grow well.

This programme aims to improve children’s growth and development by providing nutrient-rich food at an early age. During the implementation of the activity, Apical is accompanied by the local Health Center staffs to educate the public, especially mothers of toddlers who indicated stunting regarding stunting prevention, especially the importance of giving the supplementary food.

Learn more at https://www.apicalgroup.com/articles/apical-continues-the-stunting-prevention-program-by-providing-supplementary-food-to-babies-suspected-of-stunting-in-salok-baru/

Apical launches the Apical Supplier Platform to support traceability and NDPE commitments

Apical has recently launched their new digital initiative - Apical Supplier Platform available on https://sfa.acedigitalplatform.com/

Aligned with our commitment to No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) principles, this platform represents an important step in our efforts to ensure supply chain traceability. The Apical Supplier Platform is designed to streamline and improve the collection and management of vital supplier information. This platform is critical in meeting the latest EU Deforestation Free regulations, notably addressing traceability to plantation criteria.

The platform features streamlined data collection and management from supplying mills, improved supplier collaboration with the user-friendly interface, enhanced traceability by capturing accurate and up-to-date data and it is also available outside of Citrix for easy access.

We are excited about the Apical Supplier Platform's launch and its potential to further strengthen our NDPE commitments and traceability efforts.

Read more Newsletter here https://www.apicalgroup.com/media-resources/articles/newsletters/