Central Co-op to offset crematoria CO2 with reforestation scheme

Central Co-op has revealed that it will be combining its Planting Promise initiative with the Our Malawi Partnership, as it aims to support environmental and trading capacity in the south-east African country, as well as offset crematoria CO2 produced by its funeral arm.

The group, which has planted a tree for every funeral it has conducted since 2022, has planted a total of nearly 20,000 trees annually and offset up to 6,000 tonnes of CO2. 

Central Co-op Funeral Plans will now be focusing its Planting Promise in Malawi, an area where reforestation has the power to address key environmental, economic and social challenges. 

The Our Malawi Partnership supports farmers and producers by selling a range of Malawi-sourced products in its stores. Proceeds from these products directly contribute to strengthening the trading capacity of the country’s communities. 

By combining its Planting Promise with the Our Malawi Partnership, Central Co-op aims to drive meaningful change both in Malawi and globally.

This initiative will contribute to the reforestation of Malawi’s most affected regions, providing significant benefits including mitigating the risk of severe flooding, improving food security and empowering local communities through employment opportunities. 

As one of the world’s least developed nations, Malawi faces rising climate threats, including extreme floods. Tree planting in these vulnerable areas helps restore wildlife habitats, improve soil quality and secure the livelihoods of local farmers.

Central Co-op is working in collaboration with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), Malawi’s oldest conservation non-governmental organisation (NGO). WESM will work closely with local communities, providing training and identifying suitable sites for tree planting. 

The trees will be planted during Malawi’s rainy season – from November to May – to ensure they have the best chance for survival. Central Co-op and WESM will focus on species that not only restore forests, but also offer economic value to communities, such as fruit-bearing trees or hardwoods.