Aldi staff gathered at Rockfield, Limerick recently to plant 16,000 plant Oak, Birch, Hazel and Alder trees to launch Aldi’s commitment to planting a further 100,000 new trees over the next five years.
The new plantation of native Irish woodland will help to encourage local flora and fauna while aligning with the Government’s aim to plant 22 million trees a year until 2040.
The initial plantation of 16,000 trees will remove as much as 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over a 15-year period, the retailer said.
A further 84,000 will be planted over the remainder of the five-year initiative, with the next planting phase to take place within the next 12 months.
Carbon Reduction Pledge
The initiative is the latest step in Aldi’s Carbon Reduction Pledge, which saw Aldi achieve Carbon Neutral status at the beginning of 2019.
“This particular project supports our Carbon Reduction Pledge - we can look to what we are creating here today and how it will grow as we plant 100,000 trees over the next five years," said John Curtin, group buying director, Aldi.
"When we return here in twenty years’ time, we will find a natural woodland, bursting with wildlife.”
Benefit Assessment
Working in conjunction with Green Belt, the site underwent a Forest Carbon Woodlands Benefit Assessment.
As part of this assessment, it was established that the site was planned sensitively, enhancing the stream and pond area on the existing land, with the new plantation expanding existing woodland and creating a wildlife corridor for local species.
Additionally, the site has been planned with significant setbacks throughout, enabling grassland to revert to more natural vegetation, further enhancing biodiversity in the area.
Climate Change Agenda
Minister of State for Finance, Public Expenditure & Reform Patrick O’Donovan was in attendance at the recent launch.
Speaking at the event, Minister O’Donovan said: “The Government has recently laid out our priorities under the Climate Change Agenda."
"This includes a major emphasis on planting millions of trees across the country. It is important that companies and individuals play their part to help reduce the amount of carbon we emit, so this initiative by Aldi is very welcome.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
