International Day of Forests 2022 | Arval expands its International Biodiversity Project: 1 Electrified* Vehicle = 1 Tree to all Arval Countries

Arval, a global leader in full-service vehicle leasing and sustainable mobility solutions is expanding its first international biodiversity project launched in 8 Arval countries in 2021 to all remaining countries where the company is operating, in 2022. The project in a nutshell: One tree will be planted or regenerated** for each electrified vehicle (electric and hybrid) leased by Arval. Local projects have been identified in 17 countries while the remaining 11 countries will be contributing to a global project in Peru. The objective is to promote local biodiversity and engage employees locally as well as Arval customers. By the end of 2025, Arval’s ambition is to have financed more than 700,000 trees in line with the Arval Beyond strategy.

Growing concerns about climate change have put sustainability at the heart of CSR strategies all around the world. The climate emergency continues to be of great importance each year, and Arval, is in the right position to drive positive change towards sustainable mobility and actively participate in tackling climate changes. CSR plays a key role within the strategic plan, Arval Beyond, with an upwards revised ambition for 2025: 700,000 electrified vehicles in its fleet (representing 35% of its global fleet). 

The project was first launched in the eight Arval countries with the biggest volume of electrified vehicles delivered in 2021. The countries include Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. By the end of 2021, more than 97,000 trees have already been financed. Following its implementation in these countries, the project has been expanded to the remaining Arval countries in 2022. 

The project is an excellent opportunity to take action to protect the forests, to commit to the preservation of biodiversity and combat deforestation, while promoting the adoption of electrified vehicles.

By the end of 2025, Arval will have financed more than 700,000 trees globally.

By expanding this project, Arval will be able to support reforestation projects and do good for the surrounding environment. Notably, Arval will be able to measure the environmental and social benefits of each reforestation project. The total expected benefits at the end of 2025 are:

•    105,000 tons of CO2 stored 
•    2,100,000 of animal shelters created
•    2,800,000 months of oxygen generated 
•    700,000 hours of work created 
 
“With the “1 Electrified Vehicle = 1 Tree” project, we have embedded corporate social responsibility at the very core of our business, counting on each employee and customer to embark on a sustainable journey towards adopting electrified vehicles”, says Alain van Groenendael, Arval Chairman and CEO.

Discover Arval’s new biodiversity initiative 

Arval is helping to restore forests with Reforest’Action, which is in charge of overseeing and planting the trees in the Arval countries that are part of this project. 

Reforest’Action, the forest specialist, is a B Corp-certified company dedicated to preserving, restoring and creating forests in France and around the world, in response to the climate emergency and loss of biodiversity. To do this, Reforest’Action selects forestry projects and supports them financially, guaranteeing their quality to develop their environmental, social and economic multifunctionality in the long term. Reforest’Action’s mission is made possible thanks to crowdfunding by individuals and businesses. Since its creation in 2010, Reforest’Action has planted and protected more than 10 million trees in 25 countries, raised awareness of the importance of forests among 20 million people, and created a positive impact on the living conditions of more than 150,000 people around the world. For more information, please see: www.reforestaction.com

* Electric or hybrid
 

**Reforest'Action regenerates trees with Assisted Natural Regeneration, which is a natural method that helps preserve and strengthen existing forests through management that combines the trees' natural reproduction cycle with silviculture work.