IKEA Canada donates $50,000 to Tree Canada in Celebration of National Tree Day and Tree Canada's 20th Anniversary

BURLINGTON, ON, Sept. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada announced today a donation of $50,000 to their long time environmental partner Tree Canada in celebration of National Tree Day and Tree Canada's 20^th anniversary.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Tree Canada and acknowledge the work they have done over the past 20 years," says Kerri Molinaro, President of IKEA Canada. "Their commitment to empowering communities across Canada to develop and maintain healthy urban and rural forests is in line with our own sustainability goals to have a positive impact on people and the planet."

"Tree Canada and IKEA have enjoyed a special relationship for over 16 years," says Mike Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "Together we have worked hard to meet sustainability goals in communities throughout Canada and have made profound and lasting change through tree planting initiatives with IKEA co-workers and community groups. IKEA has planted over 20,000 trees and shrubs to date in urban areas and we continue to look forward to future projects with this great company."

Tree Canada will use IKEA's $50,000 donation to continue their work to improve the quality of life in Canada by planting and maintaining forests in settled landscapes.

IKEA Canada and Tree Canada began working together in 1996. Since that time, over 20,000 trees have been planted through the company's annual "Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree" program held every spring by IKEA co-workers. These trees have the potential to absorb approximately 13,568 tonnes of CO2 over an 80-year period. That is equivalent to taking 3360 cars off the road for one year.

About IKEA
IKEA is a leading home furnishings retailer with 325 stores in 40 countries worldwide, which are visited by 734 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 904 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
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization that works with sponsors, donors and communities to plant and care for rural and urban trees, promotes urban forests in Canada and facilitates carbon offset projects with trees. To date, more than 77 million trees have been planted, more than 450 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has organized 9 national urban forest conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

SOURCE: IKEA Canada