National fleet management company, Lloyds TSB Autolease, and the National Forest have completed a successful tree planting partnership as part of a three-year CSR initiative.
In a fleet industry first, Lloyds TSB Autolease planted the seeds of a long-term partnership with the National Forest Company in 2007. The fleet management company, which manages one in 200 cars on the UK’s roads, agreed to support the planting of a tree in the Forest for every new vehicle it delivers to its customers.
Almost a year ahead of schedule, the company has helped complete the planting of 100,000 trees in the Forest, which covers 200 square miles of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
The partnership has also enabled better maintenance of the site and improved access means that local people and visitors can walk and enjoy the 30 hectare site, which is partly set aside for nature conservation.
Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, said: “Lloyds TSB Autolease has significantly contributed to our continuing creation of The National Forest and we are always pleased to work with companies that recognise the environmental impact of their operations. Planting in The National Forest is a great way of expressing this green commitment.”
Mark Chessman, who lives within the boundaries of The National Forest, commented: “We take the environment very seriously and encourage our customers to do the right thing by reducing their carbon footprints, rather than just paying money to offset them. However, we wanted to make our own contribution, as a business; this collaboration allowed us to make our own investment in the environment and the British landscape.”
Lloyds TSB Autolease is already committed to helping its customers reduce their impact on the environment in many ways. Setting fleet selection policies to encourage customers to opt for cleaner, greener vehicles is one example, which also leads to cost savings. It also offers guidance and support on alternative fuels and ways to reduce the need for business journeys altogether, through journey planning and conferencing technology.
