Cedral Ireland, a proud member of Guaranteed Irish, is delighted to support the planting of the first Guaranteed Irish Forest. This project will establish a 12-hectare haven of native Irish trees near the picturesque village of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, embodying a shared commitment to biodiversity, climate action, and the enrichment of local communities. The inaugural tree planting event will feature saplings of iconic Irish native species such as Oak, Birch, and Holly.
This initiative is part of Guaranteed Irish wider commitment to encourage climate action engagement and increase biodiversity. Once mature, the forest will be open to local communities to enjoy as an additional green space, benefiting both mental and physical health. These efforts align with national goals to increase forest cover in Ireland, where only 11% of the land is forested compared to the European average of 33.5%. Guaranteed Irish membership shows commitment from businesses based in Ireland to provide quality jobs, while supporting the local community
Why Native Irish Trees?
Native trees like Oak, Birch, and Holly are vital to Ireland’s ecosystem. Oaks alone can support over 2,300 species, including birds, insects, and fungi. Holly provides food and shelter for birds during the winter, while Birch improves soil health and absorbs carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change and enabling other species to thrive. Planting native trees not only restores Ireland’s natural woodlands but also contributes to carbon sequestration, improves soil quality, and enhances local air and water systems.
Cedral Ireland's Commitment to Sustainability
Cedral Ireland is part of the global building materials group Etex. We are the only manufactures of fibre cement slates in Ireland and are also suppliers of fibre cement cladding to the Irish market. Both Etex Ireland, and Etex as a worldwide entity have been leading the way in terms of light weight construction and environmental impact of construction for decades. At the forefront of sustainability, Etex Ireland are proud to be the only fibre cement manufacturer in the world to be rated ‘Excellent’ under the BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing, which is the highest rating available.
We have fostered a strong environmental awareness among our workforce and invested in a range of resources into achieving tangible environmental progress through our ongoing environmental improvement programme, as part of the ISO 14001 standard. We are also fully committed to the maintenance of a healthy and safe environment for our employees, customers and the local communities. Etex Ireland is certified to ISO 45001 Safety Management System and ISO 9001 Quality Management to ensure our organisation achieves consistent levels of quality.
“Guaranteed Irish is thrilled to mark this important milestone today in our dedication to Ireland’s communities and their local environment. Along with the support of our participating Guaranteed Irish members, we are proud to establish this legacy project. The Guaranteed Irish Forest is one initiative within our sustainability strategy that encourages our members to support biodiversity and climate action, benefitting our environment and creating social impact in our local communities.”
Guaranteed Irish invites its members and the wider public to join in celebrating this milestone initiative that underscores the importance of collaboration in building a sustainable future for Ireland.
The Guaranteed Irish Forest is an initiative in partnership with The Nature Trust, a not-for-profit organisation backed by Coillte. Their mission to plant open-access woodlands and restore Ireland’s natural habitats aligns seamlessly with Guaranteed Irish’s vision. The Nature Trust will plant and nurture the forest, ensuring its growth into a thriving woodland.
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