International Paper APPM Limited, a group company of International Paper in India, has announced it received the Parivartan Sustainability Leadership Award for the year 2015 for its Farm Forestry initiative.
This award was instituted by Sustainability Outlook to uncover and celebrate innovation and leadership in resource conservation within the industry. The award was presented by George Hamilton, President, Institute for Sustainable Communities and Sminu Jindal, Managing Director, Jindal SAW Limited to Deepak Khare-Head of Forestry.
The Parivartan Sustainability Leadership Awards were initiated in 2011 to recognise corporates leading the change on sustainability in India as well as emerging innovators developing cutting edge solutions.
IP-APPM’s Farm Forestry initiative was adjudged winner after the eminent jury members evaluated over 600 nominations including several leading corporates.
Launched in late 1980s, the company’s Farm Forestry initiative has so far planted around 1.5 billion saplings over 2.16 lakh hectares that has aided more than 50,000 small scale farmers. The company, through the farm forestry initiative has achieved 100 per cent sustainability in its requirement for raw material not only for itself but it also helps meet wood demands for Poles (for Timber Industry) and Fuel wood for local rural community.
Rampraveen Swaminathan, President of International Paper - India and Chairman and Managing Director of IP-APPM, in a statement said, “This programme is a testimony of the fact that innovation can ensure the efficient utilisation of limited natural resources in the most sustainable manner.”