EBB described the scheme as “a simple and economical way” to offset the carbon generated in the production of the paper and board products it sells.
Carbon Footprint’s 'Tree Buddying' scheme involves one tree being planted in the UK for every tonne of CO2 that is offset by EBB and its customers.
Via Carbon Footprint EBB has also chosen to support the Portel-Pará REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) project in the Amazon, which manages a total of 177,899 hectares as a “private conservation reserve” and works to prevent unplanned deforestation of the Amazon’s native forests.
The Farnborough-headquartered merchant, which acquired Warren Board at the end of last year, has opted to automatically offset four product ranges: Oxygen Offset uncoated paper and board; Oxygen Laser uncoated paper and board; Norcopy 100% recycled premium office paper; and Green Laser bright white copier paper.
Customers can opt to offset the paper and board products they purchase from EBB for £8 per tonne of paper, either via a yearly agreement covering all purchases, annually for specific products, or on an ad-hoc basis.
The scheme allows clients to use the Carbon Footprint logo on relevant jobs, with a unique code so that “the process of carbon offsetting can be fully traceable”.
Customers that opt to offset all products will also receive a personalised certificate (every quarter, every six months, or annually) detailing how many tonnes of CO2 have been offset, and the number of trees planted.
Carbon Footprint has a large number of planting sites across the UK (see below), including at many schools, and it is possible for customers to select the preferred planting area so printers can, for example, choose to benefit their local area.
“We started offering this at the new year, and we’ve already planted 200 trees thanks to the carbon credits already accumulated through those four product ranges,” explained marketing manager Kevin Smith.
“It’s great that our customers have the option to choose where the trees are planted, too.”
EBB also plans to organise tree planting days in the future. The trees are described as high quality year-old saplings.
