Background: Following the introduction of a nominal charge for paper carrier bags in August 2024, Brown Thomas Arnotts is proud to announce the successful planting of 1,000 native Irish trees at Anne’s Nature Reserve in Ardee, Co. Louth, in partnership with Crann – Trees for Ireland. This marks a key milestone in the retailer’s pledge to plant 100,000 trees over the next decade, with proceeds from the bag charge funding this vital afforestation initiative.

Execution: The planting took place on November 20th, with teams from Brown Thomas Arnotts and Crann joining forces to transform Anne’s Nature Reserve into a flourishing habitat for biodiversity and a restorative space for employees and the local community. Anne’s Nature Reserve, a 1.5-acre site, is dedicated to supporting biodiversity through features like a wildlife pond, wildflower meadow, and enhanced hedgerows. The newly planted native woodland complements these habitats, creating a haven for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Impact: As part of its sustainable initiative to reduce its carbon footprint, Brown Thomas Arnotts has made significant progress in reducing packaging waste, including streamlining online packaging; using FSC-certified responsibly sourced paper for our paper carrier bags; and replacing plastic Gift Cards with an FSC-certified cardboard option or a zero-waste E-Gift Card option.

Photo courtesy of Brown Thomas Arnotts