Merkur UK expands climate initiatives program by supporting Sri Lankan wind farm

Merkur UK has initiated its second phase of environmental initiatives in collaboration with climate action platform Ecologi, building upon their previous partnership that resulted in the funding of 25,000 tree plantations.

In the second phase of their collaboration, Merkur UK has provided backing for a small-scale onshore wind farm project in Sri Lanka which has contributed to the prevention of 2,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions, which is the equivalent of 1,535 long haul flights, saving 6,000sqm of sea ice or 4,962,000 car miles (7,985,564 km).

Tony Boulton, Director of Public and Political Relations at Merkur UK, said the magnitude of global challenges should not dissuade enterprises from exploring avenues through which they can make meaningful contributions towards mitigating the environmental crisis.

“The tree planting program we have funded will see 25,000 trees established across 5,700 hectares in Southern Kenya. When you know that the 7-year target is over 14 million it becomes clear that projects such as this require lots of companies and organizations to do whatever they can. Similar arguments apply to renewable energy. The project we are supporting in Sri Lanka will prevent just short of 19,000 tonnes of CO2e through wind power,” Boulton said.

The initial engagement with Ecologi saw Merkur UK pay for the planting of 25,000 trees, extending its 2021 environmental initiative when it underwrote the costs of planting 1,500 trees in support of the National Trust’s Woodland Appeal. 

“The value of being a good corporate citizen is an important part of the culture which runs through MERKUR and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to add to our initial support and to contribute to such a fantastic program of work," added Boulton.