DS Smith has announced it has funded the planting of 29,000 trees – one for each employee – in celebration of the UN-backed International Day of Forests.
The move is one element of a multi-year partnership launched last year between the DS Smith Charitable Foundation and One Tree Planted, a charity supporting reforestation around the world. DS Smith has committed to planting more than 50,000 trees across Europe and North America over five years.
The species for each tree-planting initiative have been selected to best support the local ecosystem and enhance biodiversity. Nearly 80% of the 29,000 trees are due to be planted by the end of March, with the rest scheduled by the end of the year.
Wouter van Tol, head of sustainability, community and government affairs at DS Smith, said, “As a large global company and a leader in sustainable packaging, we are committed to protecting and caring for the natural environment wherever we operate. As part of our Now and Next Sustainability Strategy we are enhancing biodiversity through projects like this, and I am delighted to see the progress that has been made through our partnership with One Tree Planted.
“Planting native trees in areas where they are needed most helps to regenerate nature, which is one of the key pillars of the circular economy as defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and contributes to tackling climate change. It allows us to have a direct positive impact on the natural environment while supporting local communities.”
Louis Lagoutte, branch manager, One Tree Planted, added, “Tree planting has a real impact on enhancing biodiversity and reducing the effects of climate change. We are proud to work with partners such as DS Smith who are dedicated to sustainability and take action to protect natural resources.”
