Last month, we shared the brilliant news that we have achieved our very first The Planet Mark certification as part of the first steps in our ramped-up sustainability plan. This month, we’re delighted to share another major step now that we have partnered with Antalis – the second largest paper provider in the world – to help our customers offset the carbon emissions generated through their Xerox paper consumption.
We plan to use the initiative to plant more than 1,500 trees in UK woodland this year and we’d love your support.
Paperless workplaces are something many companies have been striving towards for quite a while now but the fact of the matter is, paper usage is still currently a big part of most daily operations. So, as we all work towards continually reducing how much paper our companies are consuming, there are things which can be done in the meantime to make paper usage more sustainable. One of those things is carbon balancing or carbon offsetting.
What is carbon balancing or carbon offsetting?
The two terms are used interchangeably but both describe the process of offsetting the carbon emissions (or green house gases) which are produced as a result of various different activities, from long haul flights to the packaging on our weekly shop. In this instance, we’re focusing on the CO2 emissions generated through commercial paper consumption and what can be done to carbon balance this, in collaboration with Antalis.
Antalis is Europe’s leading distributor of paper and has recently partnered with Forest Carbon and World Land Trust to offer customers a carbon balancing service, which means we are now all working in conjunction to be able to help you become more sustainable.
Forest Carbon is a leader in UK carbon woodland creation and has planted more than 8 million trees in the UK since 2006, removing more than 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 from the global atmosphere. World Land Trust is an international conservation charity that protects the planet’s most endangered habitats ‘acre by acre’. Penketh Group are proud to be working in partnership with such forward-thinking, eco-savvy organisations.
Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Steve Backshall are all patrons of the World Land Trust and if something is good enough for Sir Attenborough then it’s good enough for us!
Forest Carbon has dedicated forests around the country (such as the Thorney Coppice woodland just outside Kettering) where a variety of tree species are planted and protected to boost biodiversity and help balance carbon emissions. These green house gases are the main cause of climate change and global warming but offsetting the impact can help strike a balance whereby damage is avoided or repaired.
Protecting and restoring woodlands is a highly effective way to offset environmental impact. Forestry is very much under threat as more and more woodland is cleared for things like agriculture and building. Action needs to be taken as a healthy forest habitat offers the planet and the people on it a whole host of benefits.
The benefits of forestland include:
- Production of oxygen and absorption of carbon dioxide
- Reduction of peak water flow to help reduce flooding
- Less pollution running into waters so habitats become healthier
- Improved health and wellbeing
It’s thought that if the rate of planting in the UK were to double, this would mitigate 10% of the country’s carbon footprint by 2050.
What does this mean for a Penketh Group stationery customer?
As part of the stationery and business supplies arm of Penketh Group, we do already stock an extensive offering of recycled and carbon-neutral paper from other leading brands such as Xerox, Evolution and Woodland Trust. Of course, making the switch to recycled paper is another great way to help the environment and help make your stationery supplies more sustainable.
However, if you don’t want to use a recycled paper but still want to make your paper consumption more eco-friendly and responsible then our new carbon balancing value-added service in partnership with Antalis is a great way to go.
How does it work?
The carbon balancing process works by 2p being donated per ream of paper – there are 5 reams of paper per box so for every box of paper, that’s a 10p donation to the Forest Carbon cause. This 2p donation per ream is something Penketh Group will now be giving as standard on all our best-selling Xerox paper.
However, we are also offering customers who purchase the applicable products the chance to make their own 2p per ream donation, on top of our own standard donation.
Should you choose to opt into the initiative we will:
- Make your carbon donations clear on all invoices
- Provide you with regular updates on what your donations are contributing to
- Provide your company with an annual, personalised Forest Carbon accredited certificate with a total yearly contribution outline so you can see how many trees you helped plant
For example:
If you were to buy as few as 2 boxes of Xerox paper from us every month, that would amount to 24 boxes each year, which would allow one tree to be planted on your behalf. That one tree would help absorb gases from the atmosphere and help rebuild UK forestland.
In just one year, an acre of forest can absorb twice the amount of CO2 produced by the average car’s annual mileage.
We donate 10p for every box but should you opt in, you could also donate an additional 10p per box – a small price to pay for peace of mind and a smaller footprint for your business.
This just goes to show that every little really does help and no business is too small to do something about offsetting their carbon footprint.
We plan to plant over 1,500 trees in UK forests this year through carbon balancing and would love to have you onboard and involved.
Why should I do it?
Reduce the environmental footprint of your business – It’s a simple, stress-free way to make your day-to-day operations more sustainable and low-impact.
Corporate pride and brand perception – It’s good for your business to be seen taking action on climate change and you can rest easy knowing you’re doing your bit to balance the impact of your paper usage.
55% of young people in the UK say they would be more loyal to a brand that was reducing its carbon footprint – Carbon Trust
Attraction and retention of talent – A sustainable company culture is something the younger generations are looking for in places of work today so taking even small steps to be proactive in this area will help you attract and retain staff.
Minimal effort, maximum impact – The carbon balancing service we are offering provides you with two simple options:
a) Just let us donate our 2p per ream on your behalf – just another great reason to have Penketh Group as your trusted supplier for all stationery needs.
b) Opt in to make your own small donation of 2p per ream of paper on top, which will just be added to your normal costs.
Either way, you get to simply sit back, relax and know that you’re contributing to an incredibly important cause
