JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — APP Group today underscored how sustainability is becoming an integral part of Japan’s growing oshikatsu culture, as fan communities increasingly consider responsible sourcing and material choices in merchandise production. The cultural phenomenon, centered on actively supporting favorite idols, athletes, and fictional characters, continues to expand across younger and professional demographics in Japan.

According to a survey conducted by MyNavi, approximately one in two full-time employees in their 20s are involved in oshikatsu, while people in their 30s tend to spend a higher average amount. More than 70% of people who are involved in oshikatsu say that oshikatsu is an important part of their lives. Compared to people who are not involved, oshikatsu participants report more fulfilling work and personal lives.

Economists are viewing oshikatsu as a driver of consumer spending in Japan, where fan culture connects with economic growth. The trend is expressed through attending events and purchasing collectibles such as CDs, posters, photocards and related merchandise, particularly items meant to be kept and displayed over time.

As fan communities become more attentive to how these products are made, sustainability is becoming a natural extension of the oshikatsu experience. This shift also aligns with broader consumer sentiment in Japan, where 56.6% of the population is aware of sustainable products and SDGs.

“Oshikatsu merchandise is meant to be kept and displayed over time. As people grow more aware of the sustainability represented by the products they support, attention to how materials are sourced and produced becomes essential. Responsible sourcing, especially for paper-based merchandise, is becoming an important consideration in creating products that align with both fan passion and environmental responsibility,” said Tan Ui Sian, Representative Director of APPJ.

Through its paper-based solutions, APP Group supports manufacturers by providing materials developed under clear sustainability and sourcing standards. This approach helps producers navigate evolving consumer expectations with greater confidence, ensuring that long-lasting merchandise aligns not only with performance and presentation needs but also with growing sustainability needs among Japanese consumers.

About APP Group
APP is a leading Indonesia-based pulp, paper, and forestry company supplying tissue, packaging, and paper products to more than 150 countries. Operating in Indonesia and China, APP integrates responsible sourcing and sustainability into its business strategy through its Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2030. The company also introduced Regenesis, its platform to advance long-term environmental and social commitments.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — APP Group today highlighted growing demand for responsible paper solutions in Singapore following the recent Chinese New Year season, as evolving consumer preferences continue to shape festive spending and sustainability expectations. According to Milieu Insight, 78% of Singapore residents planned to celebrate locally, with 92% of those aged 25–34 expressing strong enthusiasm for family gatherings, underscoring the continued importance of in-home celebrations.

While celebrations remain vibrant and meaningful, consumers are increasingly value-conscious in their spending. Festive budgets are largely directed toward food, groceries, and essential household items that are actively used during gatherings. Practicality and efficiency shaped purchasing decisions, especially for items that support hosting and hospitality.

Across Singapore, paper-based essentials such as tissue, food packaging, and paper bags play a key role in Chinese New Year celebrations, contributing an uplift in demand as families hosted reunion dinners. Increased use of paper-based products is also reflected in rising tissue consumption, with Singapore’s tissue paper market projected to grow at a steady 2.91% CAGR through 2027. The surge highlights the importance of responsible consumption. Consumers are now mindful of choosing products that balance convenience with sustainability.

“APP Group recognizes that responsibility goes beyond the final product. Our finished paper and tissue products are certified under recognized standards such as PEFC. However at the core of production lies sustainable practices such as our Regenesis commitment and our Forest Positive Policy program. We understand that during festive seasons, demand for pulp and paper-based products increases, and consumers expect quality. At the same time, it is equally important that these products are sustainably produced and comply with Singapore’s standards”. Said Kin Keung Christopher Wong, SVP & Global BU Head Industrial White of APP Group.

The festive season serves as a reminder that seasonal demand spikes must be matched with responsible production practices. By supporting responsible product solutions from food-safe packaging to everyday tissue essentials, APP Group aims to ensure traditions are practiced and aligns with both cultural values and sustainability priorities.

About APP Group
APP is a leading Indonesia-based pulp, paper, and forestry company supplying tissue, packaging, and paper products to more than 150 countries. Operating in Indonesia and China, APP integrates responsible sourcing and sustainability into its business strategy through its Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2030. The company also introduced Regenesis, its platform to advance long-term environmental and social commitments.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arcfra, an innovator in cloud & AI-ready infrastructure, today announced the launch of Arcfra Neutree, an enterprise-grade Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform designed to industrialize AI operations. As the centerpiece of the new Arcfra AI Infrastructure Solution, Neutree shifts the enterprise focus from merely “running” models to operating them as reliable, governable, and scalable services.

Bridging the “Production Gap”

While AI adoption is surging, enterprises often struggle with fragmented GPU capacity and complex deployment workflows. Neutree addresses these challenges by providing a unified management layer for model inference in private environments. Neutree is an open-source project. Arcfra also offers Enterprise Edition with “industrial-strength” features, including 24/7 professional support and deep integration with the Arcfra Enterprise Cloud Platform (AECP).

Key Features of the Neutree Platform

• Vendor-Agnostic Deployment: Runs on any Kubernetes cluster, physical machine, or VM. It integrates heterogeneous accelerators (Nvidia, AMD, Intel) into a unified pool, allowing workloads to move from R&D to the edge or data centers without refactoring.
• Unified Resource Orchestration: Centralized management of CPU/GPU resources and model registries across data centers, public clouds, and edge sites via a single control plane.
• Three-Step “No-Code” Deployment: Slashes deployment time from days to minutes. Users can import models, specify compute requirements via a pre-optimized Model Catalog, and deploy with one click.
• Enterprise Governance: Simplifies “Day 2” operations with multi-tenancy isolation, real-time observability, and fine-grained RBAC for precise ROI auditing.

The AECP Advantage: Industrial-Strength AI Infrastructure

While Neutree provides the AI software layer, Arcfra Enterprise Cloud Platform (AECP) provides the “industrial-strength” foundation. Arcfra AI Infrastructure solution transforms a flexible tool into a robust enterprise asset, featuring hybrid scheduling, distributed storage, security, and full observability, which enables efficient and scalable AI deployment for real-world business needs.

This combination transforms standard AI setups into an “industrial-strength” foundation, offering key advantages in unified infrastructure, high-performance storage, a secure data pipeline, advanced security, total observability, and production readiness. Early adopters, including ConnectWave, a leading South Korean e-commerce provider, have already partnered with Arcfra to unify orchestration for model training, fine-tuning, and inference.

YINCHUAN, China, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In the vast land of Xiji, known as China’s first “Hometown of Literature,” spring brings renewal and vitality. Inside the warm, brightly lit Mulan Academy in Yanghe Village, local farmer-literature enthusiasts gather to exchange ideas and create. Recently, State Grid Xiji Power Supply Company dispatched the Ningxia Electric Power (Red Liupan Mountain Xiji) Communist Party Member Service Team to conduct a comprehensive on-site electrical safety inspection at Mulan Academy, delivering professional, efficient and customer-centric power services to strengthen safety safeguards and uphold the corporate principle of “People’s Electricity for the People.”

Xiji County holds the distinction of being China’s first “Hometown of Literature.” As a key venue for residents to pursue knowledge and host cultural events, Mulan Academy has become a vivid symbol of culture-benefiting initiatives and a showcase for Xiji’s cultural soft power. Guided by the philosophy of “Taking poetry as the plow and literature as the seed,” the academy has been featured by CCTV, People’s Daily Online and other major media outlets, earning a reputation as a vibrant “literary courtyard” deep in the Liupan Mountain area.

Recognized as an autonomous region-level cultural and creative base, popular science base, labor education base, four-star rural tourism site and C-level folk custom site, Mulan Academy attracts literature lovers from across China through literary events, study tours and handicraft activities. As its power demand surged with expanded operations, the Communist Party Member Service Team proactively coordinated and implemented targeted power optimization measures.

In response to increased loads from newly installed air-energy heating equipment, kitchen appliances and lighting systems, the team optimized the academy’s electrical layout, assisted in replacing aging circuits and switches, and upgraded the distribution transformer from 100 kVA to 200 kVA. This upgrade fully meets current heating and teaching needs while reserving sufficient capacity for future cultural activities, embodying the principle of “power infrastructure ahead of demand, services in advance.” The team also conducts regular safety inspections, provides guidance on safe electricity use and helps improve the academy’s self-management of electrical facilities.

For years, State Grid Xiji Power Supply Company has prioritized supporting local economic and social development, rural revitalization and cultural prosperity, integrating power security into grassroots governance and livelihood improvement. Evolving from ensuring basic access to electricity to delivering high-quality, reliable power services, the company has illuminated the literary cause of Xiji with concrete actions.

“We often say literature brightens life, yet electricity truly illuminates literature,” said Shi Jingbo, person in charge of Mulan Academy. “We highly commend the Communist Party Member Service Team for effectively resolving the power needs of the people.”

Moving forward, the company will continue to act as a “pioneer” in power supply, injecting sustainable green momentum into the cultural development and rural revitalization of Xiji County, imbuing every kilowatt-hour of electricity with warmth and lighting up hope with every lamp.