LOCAL WOMAN ‘PLANTS’ THE IDEA OF CHRISTMAS CARD RECYCLING
If everyone in Scotland recycles just one Christmas card at Marks & Spencer this year, the Woodland Trust will be able to plant more than 5,295 trees across the country.
Glasgow resident and long-time supporter of the festive M&S scheme, Muriel Finnigan (34), is championing this year’s campaign by raising awareness now in the hope that others will make a note in their diaries to drop their cards off at M&S after the Christmas break. Muriel explained: “The more cards recycled, the more trees the Woodland Trust will be able to plant throughout Scotland. Christmas is a family time and that encourages us to think about the future and what legacy we are leaving, which includes our physical environment. I’ve been telling everyone – recycle at M&S this January! Let’s see how many trees we can plant in Scotland next year.”
Muriel is not the only advocate of the charitable scheme. X Factor TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, a Woodland Trust supporter, is also encouraging people to get behind this year’s campaign. He says: ”When Christmas is over, it’s difficult to know what do with yourself. No more Christmas jingles, no more TV specials, no more mince pies! So, why not do some good? By popping to your local M&S you can recycle all your unwanted Christmas cards, and the Woodland Trust will be able to plant thousands of trees as a result.”
The UK is 8,135 trees richer thanks to the public’s efforts last year – where a staggering 8.1 million cards were dropped into M&S stores instead of kerbside recycling bins. This season, special card collection bins will be in M&S stores* from 2 January to 31 January 2014 and M&S will fund the planting of one tree for every 1,000 cards recycled, likely to result in thousands more trees throughout the UK.
“It’s a win, win,” says Sarah Locker of the Woodland Trust. “By recycling cards via the Marks & Spencer Recycling Scheme, you are playing a key part in turning unwanted waste into much needed trees. The more cards collected, the more trees we can plant so do join in and drop your cards off at M&S. Our aim is to collect at least 10 million cards this year so that we can plant 10,000 trees next year, just by recycling people’s unwanted cards.”
Mike Barry, Director of Plan A at M&S said: “This brilliant scheme plays an important role in helping our customers live a more sustainable lifestyle, a key part of our eco and ethical programme. Small steps taken by individuals can have a huge impact and the M&S collection boxes make it easy for anyone to get involved in preserving our natural habitats, simply by dropping off their Christmas card at their local store.”
The Woodland Trust has been planting trees and standing up for woodland for 40 years. Today the UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with just 13% woodland cover compared to the European average of 44% – with Scotland only faring slightly better with just seventeen per cent tree cover.
To find out more, speak to your local M&S store manager or visit http://www.plana.marksandspencer.com
Submitted by L McKenzie