IKEA Co-workers and Tree Canada Host 14th annual Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree
Program

IKEA and Tree Canada plant thousands of trees and shrubs in local IKEA communities to support urban forestry

BURLINGTON, ON, May 18 /CNW/ - Earlier today, IKEA co-workers at all 11 Canadian stores partnered with Tree Canada experts to plant and care for trees and shrubs in local communities as part of IKEA's Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree program. This marks the 14th year the two organizations have joined forces to plant and maintain trees, which support Tree Canada's urban forestry program. This year, an additional 2,309 trees and shrubs will be planted and maintained.

A portion of all Christmas tree sales from the previous holiday season help fund this initiative each year. However, additional funds raised through IKEA Canada's Bag the Bag program (the company's campaign to eliminate plastic bags at all 11 stores) allowed IKEA co-workers to plant and maintain a larger variety of trees, provide better maintenance such as mulch and tree guards that will improve tree survival.

"I'm proud of our long standing partnership with Tree Canada and the pride that our co-workers show in supporting such a great organization," says Kerri Molinaro, President of IKEA Canada. "Planting and maintaining trees helps us create beautiful and healthy environments, and IKEA co-workers are thrilled to be able to personally contribute to their communities."

Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree is responsible for planting and maintaining more than 16,000 trees and shrubs, which provide benefits to the community such as noise reduction, cleaner air, erosion control, wetland protection, habitat, wildlife and biodiversity creation and restoration, beautification, and play areas. In addition, these trees have the potential to offset about 12,000 tonnes of CO(2) over their entire lifetime. This equals taking about 3,100 Canadian cars off the road for one year.

"Tree Canada continues to value IKEA's on-going commitment to building greener communities through the annual Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree program," says Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "With the additional funds this year, a broader variety of trees were planted and maintained. We were able to invest in tree guards and mulch - both will help to minimize damage from animals and competitive weeds that help conserve humidity, thus ensuring a healthy environment for these trees to grow."

About IKEA

IKEA is a leading home furnishings retailer with 267 stores in 25 countries worldwide, which are visited by 590 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 11 stores which are visited by over 25 million people every year. Last year the IKEA.com websites attracted 450 million visitors. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca.

About Tree Canada

The Tree Canada is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1992. Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships. It encourages Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments in an effort to help reduce the harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions. For more information please visit www.treecanada.ca

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: For more interviews with IKEA or Tree Canada representatives please contact: STEFANIE NIEWADA, ACCOUNT MANAGER, OPTIMUM PUBLIC RELATIONS, T: [phone], [email protected]; Melissa Nisbett, Tree Canada, [phone] x 224, [email protected]