DS Smith funds climate-resistant trees in the Netherlands as drought threatens biodiversity

01 Jun 2023 --- DS Smith’s Charitable Foundation has granted funding to the De Hoge Veluwe National Park in the Netherlands to help safeguard biodiversity, amid growing fears of climate change-related droughts.

De Hoge Veluwe National Park is the largest actively managed nature reserve in the country. Severe droughts over recent years have caused several trees and entire parts of the forest to die, report park officials. 

A donation by DS Smith’s Charitable Foundation, which promotes several biodiversity initiatives worldwide, will see many hectares of forest transformed in the coming decades by planting drought-resistant tree species.

“The national forest is a vital natural resource and home to a diverse range of wildlife, so it is essential to protect it against the effects of severe droughts. Our partnership with De Hoge Veluwe National Park is a crucial step toward the long-term sustainability of the national forest,” Philip Bautil, managing director Benelux at DS Smith, tells PackagingInsights. 

“By prioritizing climate resilience, we aim to safeguard rare and vulnerable animal species by replanting drought-affected tree species, including Norway spruce and larch, with more resilient ones such as tree hazel and sessile oak.”

 Experts warned that the paper packaging industry is contributing to one of the most serious impacts of climate change: water loss. Industry to blame?
To achieve a sustainable landscape transformation, financial support from charities is essential, stresses the international packaging company.

Last summer, Europe was hit by unprecedented heat waves. Experts warned that the paper packaging industry is inadvertently contributing to one of the most serious impacts of climate change: water loss. 

Some industry insiders claim this problem is caused, in part, by the massive uptick in businesses replacing plastics with fiber-based materials in efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based resources. In 2021, Innova Market Insights labeled this trend as “Fiber-based Frenzy.”

Innova Market Insights also flagged “Green but clean” as a top packaging trend for 2023. The market researcher found that consumers want sustainability but don’t want to be misled. This trend encourages companies to certify their products’ ecological claims to gain a competitive edge.

Effects on producers 
Earlier this year, PackagingInsights spoke to UPM Raflatac and Innova Market Insights about the impact of climate change on packaging producers.

“One of our aims has been to reduce or replace virgin fossil sources of carbon that add burden to the carbon cycle by applying the principles of reduce, recycle, renew and reuse through responsible sourcing, sustainable operations and logistics all the way to innovative products and services,” Robert Taylor, director of sustainability at UPM Raflatac, told us.

Meanwhile, DS Smith’s Veluwe National Park project furthers its ambition to support one hundred diversity projects by 2025, working with local partners and organizations throughout Europe and North America.

Projects eligible for funding include wildflower meadows, community gardens or tree planting initiatives, intended to protect natural habitats and increase species diversity.

Margot Palmen, director of the Hoge Veluwe Fund, adds: “Thanks to this donation, De Hoge Veluwe National Park can continue to invest and pass on the green treasure trove of the Netherlands to our future generations.”

By Natalie Schwertheim

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