Branching out together

The holiday season may have ended in December but one time of year that will continue until the Spring is tree planting season.

It runs between November and March, as the weather brings prime conditions for a bit of silviculture – or forest management for normal people.

With the most trees being cut down since the start of the decade – according to the 2024 forest declaration assessment – it is becoming increasingly important to look after our woodlands.

Antalis and Premier may be rivals in the world of business – as both are leading paper and packaging distributors – but they are on the same page when it comes to forest conservation.

For 2024’s National Tree Week, which was between November 25 and December 1, the two competitors highlighted their most recent actions when it comes to the planting of trees.

Antalis recently hosted a tree-planting day at The Croft in Penrith, Cumbria, with partners Forest Carbon.

It is one of four schemes the company supports as it has already helped plant thousands of broadleaf and coniferous trees on the 5.3-hectare site.

This year, for the third one running, it planted a native tree – in this instance, an oak tree – adding to the 9,100 already rooted down at The Croft.

Through the partnership, Antalis and its customers have now helped plant 45,000 trees in the UK since 2014, restoring 19.5 hectares of ecosystems and capturing more than 7,889t of CO2.

Matthew Botfield, Sustainability Manager at Antalis, said: “Through our partnership with Forest Carbon, we offer customers a reliable and transparent solution for supporting nature-based carbon reduction projects.

“Customers can be confident that Forest Carbon’s projects are certified under the UK Government’s Woodland Carbon Code, ensuring the highest standards of environmental impact.”

Meanwhile, Premier celebrated a milestone of its own as its overall donation count to the Woodland Trust reached £2 million through its Carbon Capture scheme.

This figure has doubled since 2019 which it says shows the growing commitment that businesses place to responsible environmental action.

The programme started in 2011 as a way to help businesses mitigate the carbon emissions from their paper purchases.

Dave Jones, founder of Carbon Capture, said: “What started as a simple idea in 2011 has truly evolved.

“Knowing that it has helped both businesses and our woodlands is incredibly rewarding.

“We’re grateful to work alongside our customers who share our dedication to sustainability, and we look forward to the impact we will continue to make together.”

The funding has helped plant 119,869 trees across the UK, which is estimated to capture 519,132t of CO2.

All donations are directed solely to the Woodland Trust and its efforts for reforestation in the UK.

Sam Tarrant, head of partnerships at the organisation said: “We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Premier and its customers for their enormous generosity in donating £2 million to our tree-planting efforts.

“This milestone will make a lasting impact on our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature.

“We are truly grateful for Premier Paper’s dedication and support in working with us to create greener, healthier woodlands for future generations.”

Antalis and Premier may be rivals in the business, but the two are showing sustainability isn’t an issue for just one group – as it is for the whole industry.

More and more companies are looking at effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint and it is encouraging to see two titans as these making good headway in their chosen paths.