APR uses a closed-loop production process to reduce environmental impact by capturing and reusing chemicals, water, and energy where possible.
Clean Manufacturing and Closed Loop Production
Clean Manufacturing for a Sustainable Textile Future
APR’s Closed-Loop System
Our integrated operations in Riau, Indonesia, enable us to manage resources with high efficiency:
- Chemical Recovery
We utilise a wet-process carbon disulfide (CS2) recovery system to capture and reuse CS2. This system is continually optimised through refined operational processes to maximize chemical retention.
- Water Treatment & Recycling
We prioritise water recirculation to reduce freshwater intensity. Our on-site treatment infrastructure employs primary and secondary treatment, alongside activated sludge systems to ensure that this water meets the highest standards before being reused or returned to the environment.
- Air Emission Control
We operate advanced scrubbers and filtration systems to minimise sulphur and odour. A continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) also checks real-time air quality.
- Energy Efficiency
Since 2020, APR has operated on 100% renewable energy, including from our growing solar power capacity, which provides a clean and stable energy supply for our integrated manufacturing complex.
Environmental Benefits and Performance Outcomes
Environmental Benefits and Performance Outcomes
Our closed-loop viscose manufacturing process has resulted in measurable improvements in our environmental data:
- Reduced water consumption and freshwater withdrawal
By optimizing our processes and reusing condensate and recycled water from our domestic treatment plant, we have reduced process water consumption to 40.53 cubic metres per tonne of VSF in 2024, a 35.2% reduction from our baseline.
- Reduced chemical discharge and hazardous waste
We recover sodium sulphate, a solid by-product, using evaporation process at a rate of 76.2%. This prevents chemical waste while creating a valuable compound for industrial applications or internal use.
- Lower emissions due to efficient recovery systems
Our sulphur emission intensity saw a 6.3% reduction to 12.33 kg/t VSF in 2024. By the first five months of 2025, this further dropped to 10.04 kg/t VSF, successfully exceeding the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Aspirational target of 12 kg/t VSF.
- Supports circularity and long-term sustainability resilience
Integrating our facility with our primary supplier, APRIL, allows us to streamline production at a single site. This integration ensures a consistent supply of renewable raw materials and enforces sustainability policies that protect the local ecosystem.
Explore our broader sustainability pillars here
Governance, Standards, and Transparency
APR maintains transparency through alignment with stringent frameworks and real-time reporting:
- Compliance with global sustainability frameworks
Our production processes comply with domestic regulations and align with international standards including WHO guidelines, OEKO-TEX® STeP Annex 5, and the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM).
- Alignment with EU Best Available Techniques (BAT)
In October 2024, independent auditors from BluWin Limited confirmed that APR meets Best Available Techniques Associated Emission Levels (BAT-AEL) across material usage, water management, waste water treatment, air emissions, and other key areas.
- Participation in ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme
We have achieved the ZDHC MMCF Aspirational Level, the highest degree of compliance, for waste water and chemical safety. We regularly submit reporting data through the ZDHC portal to ensure ongoing accountability.
View our sustainability progress here
Continuous Improvement under APR2030
Our APR2030 sustainability roadmap serves as the foundation of our ongoing investments and operational upgrades, guiding our path towards a more responsible manufacturing. We are dedicated to achieving a 50% reduction in process water consumption intensity and an 80% reduction in solid waste sent to landfills by 2030, using our 2019 baseline as a benchmark for progress.
To reach these goals, we prioritise stringent research and monitoring, such as our recent feasibility studies to phase out and explore potential alternatives to hazardous chemicals like sodium dichromate (N₂Cr₂O₇). In 2024, third-party testing confirmed that our products comply with regulatory standards regarding the absence of Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC), including the absence of potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇).
By expanding our solar power capacity toward a 50 MW target and refining our chemical recovery efficiency, we reinforce a long-term commitment to clean manufacturing that extends far beyond basic regulatory compliance.
To fully understand our commitment in action, read our Sustainability Report
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does APR track its emissions?
We use the CEMS and SPARING systems to measure and transmit real-time data on air and water quality directly to the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s monitoring platforms. - What is the “Aspirational Level” for Sulphur recovery?
It is the highest tier of the ZDHC guidelines. In early 2025, we exceeded this target by reducing our sulfur emission intensity to 10.04 kg/t VSF. - What happens to the sodium sulphate by-product?
We recover over 76% of it via a simple evaporation process. It is either sold for global industrial applications or diverted to our sister company’s pulp mill to be used as a bleaching agent, completing the circular loop. - Why is EU-BAT compliance important?
Meeting the European Union’s “Best Available Techniques” ensures our factory operates at the global frontier of environmental and operational efficiency, which is critical for remaining competitive in international markets. - What renewable energy sources does APR use?
We rely on a mix of biomass from multi-fuel recovery boilers and solar power. Our solar capacity reached 26.3 MW in 2024, with a goal to hit 50 MW by 2030.
> 95% Sulphur Recovery Rate by 2025
50% Reduction in Process Water Consumption Intensity by 2030 (2019 Baseline)
80% Reduction in Solid Waste to Landfill by 2030 (2019 Baseline)
Meet all Criteria Set out in the EU BAT Polymer Bref by 2023
Meet ZDHC MMCF Guidelines' 'Aspirational Levels' by 2025
Core Goals
Our Progress
| Baseline | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Target (2030) 🎯 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| >95% Total Sulphur Recovery | (%) | 89.2 | 94.99 | 94.35 | 95 | >95.0 |
| 50% Less Water use / T VSF | (m3/TVSF) | 62.6 | 40.7 | 40.6 | 38.6 | 31.3 |
| 80% less waste to Landfill | (BDkg/TVSF) | 114 | 152 | 142.2 | 112.46 | 22.8 |
| EU BAT Compliance | (%) | 81.3 | 94.1 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| ZDHC Aspirational Level | (%) | 0 | 87.5 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Climate and Nature Positive
Circularity
Inclusive Prosperity