PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) has been recognized with the Social Business Innovation and Green (SIGREEN) Commitment Awards for its dedication to sustainable and transparent palm oil plantation development. The company was named Best Corporate in Responsible Business Practices for Eco-Friendly Product Innovation supporting greenhouse gas emission reduction in the Agribusiness Category.
“Congratulations to the participants and business owners,” said Dr Sandiaga Uno, the former Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, who attended virtually as the keynote speaker. According to him, social innovation and green commitment in the business world are indeed very important.
Muhamad Ihsan, CEO and Chief Editor of Warta Ekonomi, remarked that this recognition represents a concrete measure to support companies that maintain business operations while considering environmental impacts. The award is presented to organizations that have effectively integrated social innovation and green commitment into their core business strategies, including demonstrable efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.
“SIGREEN 2025 serves as a platform for recognition and cross-sectoral dialogue to advance green commitment and social innovation in the business sector. The event aims to enhance collaboration among businesses, government, and communities to achieve a competitive and sustainable green economy,” stated Ihsan.
The assessment focused on three primary aspects: green transformation and operational sustainability; impact-driven innovation, ecosystem collaboration, and shared value creation; and transparency, impact measurement, and leadership. According to Ihsan, winners were selected based on their innovation, business resilience, and integration of green values into business practices, demonstrating that sustainability is central to their operations rather than a peripheral activity.
Veronica Lusi Herdiyanti, Chief Commercial Officer of Astra Agro, emphasized that the application of sustainability principles is fundamental to the company’s operations. Astra Agro has introduced the Astra Agro Sustainability Aspirations, which outlines specific targets for implementing sustainability initiatives.
“This award serves as one of the encouragements “This award affirms that the green innovations being implemented have a tangible impact on the company’s operations, the environment, the local community, and partner farmers,” she stated. Production and the implementation of environmentally friendly practices are Astra Agro’s responsibility to make a real contribution to the nation. Astra Agro consistently strengthens collaboration, technology, and innovation that support excellent and efficient operations.
This commitment is demonstrated through a range of concrete actions undertaken by Astra Agro to support the green economy and climate change mitigation. The company has strengthened its carbon emission reduction strategy through measures such as improving energy efficiency in palm oil mills, implementing a Water Management System (WMS) to enhance operational efficiency, optimizing methane capture systems to convert methane gas into alternative energy, and increasing the use of biomass and renewable energy across operational regions.
The company is also reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers by adopting alternatives such as artificial fertilizers and ASTEMIC (Astra Efficient Microbe) biofertilizers. Additionally, Astra Agro actively protects High Conservation Value (HCV) areas and monitors regions sensitive to biodiversity.
Astra Agro’s sustainability programs have resulted in a 15.14% reduction in the Group’s scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from the 2019 baseline, a 92.17% increase in the renewable energy mix, and 100% recycling and recovery of solid waste. Consequently, Astra Agro has achieved a reduction of 126.3 ktCO2eq in greenhouse gas emissions.
As one of Astra Agro’s female directors, Lusi highlighted that beyond emission reduction, the company is committed to promoting diversity, fostering an inclusive work environment, and ensuring that its operations deliver broad benefits to surrounding communities. “All of this is in line with the company’s mission, which is to prosper with the nation, grow and thrive together with the nation,” concluded Lusi.
