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Our
About This President’s About 2023 Apical2030 Approach to Transformative
Report Statement Apical Highlights Highlights Sustainability Partnerships

APICAL GROUP
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023
OUR APPROACH TO

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORKS
There are four major frameworks that support Apical's sustainability approach. This provides guidance to how we
engage with our suppliers, stakeholders and communities while in parallel, protecting and conserving biodiversity
and the environment. Collaboration and transparency are the cornerstones of these frameworks as they
outline steps to align sustainability priorities to international standards and frameworks, implement grievance
processes, establish monitoring protocols and provide disclosures on levels of compliance through sustainability
reports.
1 3
Traceability Verification NDPE Implementation
A-SIMPLE Guidance Reporting Framework DFDD
Framework Implementation
(More information can be (More information can be
found in the Transformative found in the Transformative Framework
Partnerships Chapter in pages Partnerships Chapter in page
57-58) 59)
2 4

A-SIMPLE FRAMEWORK b. Risk Profiling: Supplier screening, certification,
risk and impact assessments
In 2020, Apical launched the A-SIMPLE Framework
to implement our sustainability practices and c. Prioritisation: Adopt a risk-based approach by
policies throughout our operations and supply chain. prioritising supplier engagement based on supplier
The framework enables our suppliers to achieve risk profiling
compliance against NDPE commitments to reduce
supply chain risks. In turn, we fulfil the expectations d. Supplier Engagement: Perform both broad-
of our stakeholders and meet our customers’ demand based and deep supplier engagement approach
for products that are both sustainably sourced and via Apical’s Anchor programmes which includes
produced. The core principle of the framework deforestation-free due diligence and third party
lies in proactive engagement with our suppliers to verification for NDPE compliance and beyond
continuously improve their operations and achieve
e. Cease, Prevent, or Mitigate and Remediation:
value in all segments of the supply chain.
Implementation of an effective grievance
In line with our enhanced Sustainability Policy and our mechanism that aligns with the UNGPs and
new Human Rights Policy published in 2023, we have international best practice for resolution
strengthened our A-SIMPLE Framework embedding a
robust time-bound implementation action: f. Transformation: Continue embarking on our
strategic projects, conducting social impact
a. Setting Commitments: Align with Apical2030 assessments, deployment of Sustainable
roadmap and targets, policy commitments, Living Village (SLV) programme, Smallholder
suppliers’ acknowledgement, strengthening Inclusion for better Livelihood & Empowerment
A-SIMPLE framework, review of policies and (SMILE) programme, Community Livelihood
procedures, awareness and communication to Empowerment & Action (CLEAN) programme, and
stakeholders implementation of forest protection and emission
reduction initiatives, among others

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