Royal Mail lead the way in combatting climate change

Woods are scarce in the UK - only 12% is covered by woodland, compared to the 46% European average. There is no doubt that the paper used in the 80 million letters sent every day across the UK does little to abet this tree shortage.

But now the posties are joining the fight against climate change and helping the woodland fight back. Staff at Royal Mail and Parcelfore Worldwide are being invited to sign up to a scheme that offsets their carbon emissions, as well as being given tips on shrinking their carbon footprint.

The scheme allows employees to give regular tax-free donations - out of their wages - to the Woodland Trust, a UK charity that plants and cares for trees.

In setting up the scheme, Royal Mail asked employees about home energy usage, and car and air travel, allowing them to calculate just how many trees would need to be planted to offset the emissions. It is believed to be the first project of its kind - and the Woodland Trust are encouraging other businesses to follow Royal Mail’s lead.

A representative for Woodland Trust called the project ‘excellent’ and thanked Royal Mail for their support. She added that ‘Planting trees creates vital habitats for more species than any other, traps pollution, generates oxygen, stabilises soil and forms a stunning part of our landscape.’

Head of Sustainability at Royal Mail, Dr. Martin Blake, who thought up the scheme, sees it as more than ‘just giving people a way to offset.’

‘What we’re doing,’ said Blake, ‘is spreading the word about a sustainable environment.’