Reconomy benefits nature in first of its kind collaboration with Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Reconomy, a leading international circular economy specialist providing sustainability technology, data and services to a broad range of industries, has partnered with Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Quarry Farm – a Shropshire landowner – in an initiative to promote biodiversity, nature recovery and sequester carbon emissions.
The collaboration with SWT and Quarry Farm comes as part of Reconomy’s Nature Positive Climate Strategy and demonstrates Reconomy’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable business practices. It also aims to encourage more businesses to take action against climate change.
Across the 0.3-hectare plot, 340 native broadleaf trees will replace conifer woodlands to create wildlife corridors, increase biodiversity and support natural habitats. It will connect hedgerows and other areas of woodland, including ancient woodland.
The broadleaf trees will capture 340 tonnes of CO2e which will be used to mitigate essential Reconomy business travel. The tree planting project commenced in December 2023 and is set to complete by March 2024, with ongoing maintenance for 3-6 years to ensure the protection and health of the newly planted trees. Reconomy is running a volunteer programme for its staff to take part in the initiative.
The project aligns with Reconomy’s commitment to promoting the circular economy and contributes to carbon capture, as each tree is estimated to capture 1 tonne of CO2e over 40 years.
The partnership represents the first of its kind for Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Quarry Farm, and Reconomy, aligning with the government’s ‘test and trial’ initiative which encourages businesses and landowners to collaborate in protecting and benefiting from nature.
Local environmental project collaborations offer businesses opportunities to protect natural resources vital for operations, comply with environmental obligations, achieve Net Zero targets, and better engage with their workforce and local communities.
Diane Crowe, Group Head of Sustainability at Reconomy, commented: “At Reconomy, we understand the crucial role businesses play in supporting the environments and communities we live in. The enthusiasm from the team at Reconomy and our partner organisations has been an encouraging demonstration of the healthy business appetite to drive change.”
Luke Neal, Technical Manager, from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with Reconomy to bring private finance into the farmed landscape for the benefit of nature and wildlife. This long-term initiative will support natural habitats and we hope the results will inspire more businesses to engage in similar initiatives.”