Rentokil Initial announces new partnership with Cool Earth

31 Jul 2018

Rentokil Initial plc (FTSE: RTO, “the Company”) today announces a new partnership with Cool Earth, the climate change charity, to support its Wabumari partnership in Papua New Guinea – protecting around 1,000 acres of rainforest and so preventing the release of at least 228,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the Company’s entire carbon footprint. By supporting the people of Wabumari, Rentokil Initial will transform the prospects of the community and halt deforestation.

Preventing deforestation is one of the most effective carbon mitigation strategies. Through action at a local level, Cool Earth has demonstrated impact on a global scale. Its partnerships have more rainforest under the 24/7 protection of local people than any other NGO or government.

Cool Earth’s Wabumari partnership is part of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Initiative, a network of forest conservation projects which celebrate Her Majesty’s commitment to the Commonwealth and promote the value of forests.

Cool Earth was founded in 2007 by Frank Field MP and businessman Johan Eliasch. With a mission to develop innovative strategies for preventing deforestation. Since then, Cool Earth has been named as the most cost-effective charity mitigating climate change and has won support from Sir David Attenborough, Dame Vivienne Westwood and Lord Stern among others.

Frank Field remains at the helm as chair of trustees. He said, “It makes total sense for Cool Earth to seek support from a ground-up organisation that has people at its heart. I am delighted to have Rentokil Initial and their 37,000 colleagues backing Cool Earth’s people-focused approach to reducing carbon emissions.”

Matthew Owen, Director of Cool Earth said: “Rentokil Initial is revered in its industry and recognised globally for its innovation. Cool Earth couldn’t be more proud that they have chosen to support us. There’s no doubt that with Rentokil Initial’s colleagues at our side, we can do more to prevent deforestation than ever before.”

Andy Ransom, Chief Executive of Rentokil Initial said: “We are already making great progress towards our target of reducing our carbon emissions by 20% by the end of 2020, but we wanted to go further and through Cool Earth’s Wabumari partnership we will mitigate our entire carbon footprint. This is something of great importance to our 37,000 colleagues and is a perfect fit with our mission to protect people and enhance lives.”

Rentokil Initial has chosen to fund the programme from unclaimed dividends, putting to good use the monies that have stayed on its balance sheet, unclaimed, for over 12 years.

About Cool Earth’s Partnership

• Over three quarters of Papua New Guinea is covered by the world’s third largest rainforest; home to an extraordinarily diverse population, sheltering an almost unrivalled number of species of flora and fauna.
• Cool Earth’s approach sets up local community-led partnerships, which help villages on the frontline of rainforest destruction to build sustainable livelihoods, so that local people benefit more from keeping the forest standing than from clearing it. 
• In Wabumari village, a registered women’s cooperative enables a sewing group to create curtains, pillow cases, school uniforms and clothing to sell at the market. This is one of many initiatives the community of Wabumari is investing in with Cool Earth’s support.  Other types of support include sustainable agricultural training and first-year spend for seeds, transport, ground preparation and a plant nursery; fund new coconut oil processing equipment; and the development of a poultry cooperative.

Wabumari

• Wabumari village lies about an hour’s boat ride from Gadaisu, Papua New Guinea. Together there are around 100 families here who are struggling to defend their forest.
• Like everywhere in PNG, there’s an amazing variety of languages which are spoken. As well as the local language, Lausaha, most people speak English and at least one other. Some speak as many as six.
• But no matter the language, they are all united by a common goal – to protect their forest. 
• Whilst it is a beautiful place, poverty makes the community vulnerable. Three-quarters of families earn less than £10 a month, with most scraping together a living by selling betel nuts or fishing.  Offers from logging for their forest can be difficult to resist.

www.coolearth.org

About Rentokil Initial plc

• Rentokil Initial, FTSE100, is the world’s leading Pest Control and Hygiene services company, operating in 73 countries. It operates route-based services with teams of highly trained technicians.  The Company was awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise (for International Trade in 2017 and for Innovation in 2018).

www.rentokil-initial.com

Media enquiries:

Malcolm Padley, Rentokil Initial plc, 07788 978 199

Chloe Rickard, Cool Earth, 01326 567200