Caring Panelco puts its lorry fleet into neutral

A NORTH Staffordshire manufacturer is planting more than 4,000 trees a year in a bid to make its business carbon neutral.

Panelco, which makes and distributes laminate products such as chipboard and MDF, has teamed up with Nottingham-based Future Neutral to offset the carbon produced by its delivery trucks.

The firm, which employs 80 people across three sites in Blythe Bridge, Fenton and Hanley, has invested an undisclosed sum in the tree-planting scheme, Carbon Forestry.

Its 28 trucks use some 480,000 litres of diesel every year – which equates to a carbon footprint of 1,263 tonnes.

To offset this, Future Neutral will plant 4,166 hardwood trees in forests around the UK every year.

Panelco director Chris Rudd said: "We run almost 30 vehicles of our own so we decided to do something to offset the emissions."

Human resources manager Kate Ellis said: "The main factor is that deliveries of Panelco products on Panelco wagons will be completely carbon neutral, which we think is unique within the industry.

"We've arranged to plant six acres of hardwood trees.

"When they're planted, we'll be sent a grid reference so we can see exactly where they are.

"We're very committed to reducing our carbon footprint and it's something that will be done annually – it's not just a one-off."

Paul Hammond, managing director of Future Neutral, which manages the Carbon Forestry scheme, said more and more firms are investing in carbon offsetting projects.

He said: "Carbon Forestry involves planting forests in the UK with trees that suit the area. We generate and sustain the forests to make sure they grow to their full potential, and the trees remove the carbon from the atmosphere.

"This wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for the companies investing – there are no Government grants for it.

"What Panelco is doing makes a statement to their staff and their customers that they care about the environment."

Mr Hammond said firms can spend anything from £200 to hundreds of thousands of pounds on reducing their carbon footprint.

But he said the investment made sound financial sense.

He said: "Companies do win more business by doing this – if you've got two firms in front of you and one has got better green credentials, you'll choose that one."

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