The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report recently set out the “unequivocal" impact human activity is having on the planet and called for immediate, rapid and large-scale cuts to greenhouse gas pollution. The report makes it clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses so we are all going to need to make changes in how we live, work and travel. Businesses too need to play their role in decarbonising our economy.

Today, we are making a simple commitment as part of our broader CSR strategy. Shire Leasing will commission the planting of a tree for every new lease agreement funded starting from July 2021.

Making a difference through every customer

Through a new partnership with Play It Green, an organisation offering a simple and accessible way to support reforestation whilst lowering carbon footprints, every new lease transaction we fund will result in a tree being planted. Simple and immediate action with the aim of making a difference.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, creating far-ranging environmental and health effects across the globe. Planting trees is one method of offsetting carbon emissions, as a single tree stores on average 22kg of CO2 per year and in exchange releases oxygen (European Environment Agency).  

Tackling poverty whilst supporting the environment

The impact of the new initiative goes further than reforestation by tackling poverty in the regions where trees are planted. The scheme will promote and enable opportunities of fair employment to people living in impoverished communities, allowing them to become transformational agents of global forest restoration.

To find out more about the initiative and follow how many trees are planted in our ‘Forest Garden’ as time passes, visit our CSR webpage.