Three thousand trees, or one hectare worth of forest, were planted in the Ignalina district, and this is estimated to capture 605 tonnes of CO2 in the future – the equivalent amount of CO2 generated by 260 return flights from Vilnius to New York. This was how the international parcel company Venipak opted to mark its 20th anniversary with its employees, their families, and representatives from the non-profit organisation VšĮ Myliu Mišką.
“This is an anniversary year for our team, and we wanted to mark it with the future decades in mind. Our employees enthusiastically supported the idea of celebrating the company’s birthday in this manner and planting trees together. We all understand the significance of forests in the context of climate change and take this very responsibly. Planting trees was a fun outdoor activity for us as a team, during which we learned more about Lithuanian forests and had the opportunity to expand them with our own hands,” says Asta Raudonienė, Chief Global Marketing Officer at Venipak Group.
To plant trees in Ignalina, the company’s employees also brought their families along, including children. “For an occasion like this, it is nice to have the little ones around, as this one hectare of forest that we planted together will serve future generations,” says Raudonienė. After having planted the trees, the Venipak team didn’t rush back home but stayed and enjoyed the wonderful spring weather by picnicking and participating in nature-focused educational activities.
Inspiring other businesses
Forests play a crucial role in regulating the climate and conserving biodiversity. According to Skaistė Paišytė from VšĮ Myliu Mišką, a non-profit established in 2021, the CO2-capturing process starts from the day the tree is planted.
“The effect is achieved within a few decades when the trees reach their maximum height,” explains Paišytė. “This autumn, we will apply a repellent to all the trees we’ve planted and will then look after them for the next eight years until they become stronger and can grow on their own. We will then change the use of this plot of land from an agricultural parcel to a forest. This initiative is part of the larger goal of extending the forest area in Lithuania from 33.8% to 35% of its territory, with a total of five hectares of forest to be planted in Ignalina.”
According to Paišytė, the involvement of business communities in tree planting may well become contagious and inspire other businesses to contribute to the expansion of Lithuania’s forest area.
“I’ve always said that companies who do good and let others know about it set an example for others to follow. We are very pleased to see Venipak joining their ranks, and on top of that, the company will now have its own forest! I take the view that tree planting should be well-publicised because climate change is a major global problem, and the louder we talk about our efforts to address it, the more people will want to contribute,” says Paišytė.
Tree planting is one of many initiatives
The idea of marking the company’s 20th anniversary by helping our planet did not come out of the blue – Venipak has been investing in social responsibility initiatives every year and involving its team in their implementation.
“Twenty years ago, when we delivered our first parcel, it was hard to imagine where we’d be in 2024. However, it was clear from day one that all our achievements would be due to the dedication and hard work of our team and employees,” says Raudonienė. “This is why, throughout the years, we have believed that our company’s success primarily depends on the well-being of our employees, their families, partners, and the broader community, which must be continuously fostered.”
This wasn’t the first tree planting event in which the company’s entire team participated, and neither was it its first meaningful initiative: Venipak has continuously collaborated with the Lithuanian Red Cross and Save the Children Lithuania, as well as supporting animal rescue organisations.
“Whether it’s visiting lonely elderly people, organising trips for disadvantaged children, helping rescue animals, or planting forests, these initiatives that our employees enthusiastically support not only strengthen our team and provide a break from daily routines but also give us a sense of fulfilment and meaning, highlighting the importance of our personal contributions. As a business, our goal is not only to make money but also to share it, investing in the well-being and future of us all.”
