Payless ShoeSource, Customers and The Nature Conservancy Partner to Raise Money to Plant 100,000 Trees to Help Rebuild Atlantic Forest
Payless Launches 'Green BOGO'(TM); Trees Planted for Every Zoe & Zac(TM) Green Brand Item Purchased Through May 4 and On Exclusive Reusable Shopping Bag Through End of Year
April 13, 2009
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TOPEKA, Kan., April 13, 2009 — Just in time for Earth Day, Payless ShoeSource and The Nature Conservancy today announced a partnership to raise money to plant a minimum of 100,000 trees to support the Plant a Billion Trees campaign dedicated to planting 1 billion trees by 2015 to help rebuild the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. As part of the effort, today, Payless is launching a Green BOGO(TM) (Buy One, Get One Half Off) sale to partner with shoppers to raise money for the important cause. Payless will donate $1 -- the cost to plant one tree -- for every Zoe & Zac green brand item sold through May 4 and on every Payless exclusive reusable shopping bag sold throughout the year.
Payless said it has committed a minimum $100,000 contribution to The Nature Conservancy, which equates to 100,000 trees planted in the Atlantic Forest, but that it expects consumer interest to be high for the products and the cause, resulting in a potentially larger contribution.
"We are thrilled to team up with The Nature Conservancy and our shoppers on this important global cause and to create the Green BOGO to support the planting of, at minimum, 100,000 trees," said LuAnn Via, president of Payless ShoeSource. "The timing is perfect -- together we can celebrate Earth Day with the launch of our Zoe & Zac green brand and help support the Plant a Billion Trees campaign. Through May 4, every Zoe & Zac item sold represents a newly planted tree -- every pair of shoes, handbag, necklace, or pair of socks -- as well as our reusable shopping bag through the end of the year. With this unique program, and the participation of our eco-minded customers, together we'll help restore the Atlantic Forest and create a stronger future for our planet."
Tropical forests are often called the "Lungs of the Earth," storing enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the never-ending cycle of life, helping regulate the atmosphere and stabilize global climate. The Atlantic Forest, among the largest tropical forests in the world, has been degraded to only seven percent of its original size through such activities as coastal development, urban expansion, agriculture, ranching, exotic plantations and illegal logging.
"Our Plant a Billion Trees program is critical to restoring the Atlantic Forest and so far we have already planted 1.5 million trees," said Amy Golden, acting chief marketing membership & philanthropy officer for The Nature Conservancy. "This partnership with Payless is unique to our effort and is a first-of-its-kind for our organization to join with a mainstream retailer. We are thrilled to team up with Payless with its wide-reaching store chain, its engaged store associates and loyal customer base to work together for our cause and to help restore this important tropical forest."
Payless said it has committed a minimum $100,000 contribution to The Nature Conservancy, which equates to 100,000 trees planted in the Atlantic Forest, but that it expects consumer interest to be high for the products and the cause, resulting in a potentially larger contribution.
"We are thrilled to team up with The Nature Conservancy and our shoppers on this important global cause and to create the Green BOGO to support the planting of, at minimum, 100,000 trees," said LuAnn Via, president of Payless ShoeSource. "The timing is perfect -- together we can celebrate Earth Day with the launch of our Zoe & Zac green brand and help support the Plant a Billion Trees campaign. Through May 4, every Zoe & Zac item sold represents a newly planted tree -- every pair of shoes, handbag, necklace, or pair of socks -- as well as our reusable shopping bag through the end of the year. With this unique program, and the participation of our eco-minded customers, together we'll help restore the Atlantic Forest and create a stronger future for our planet."
Tropical forests are often called the "Lungs of the Earth," storing enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the never-ending cycle of life, helping regulate the atmosphere and stabilize global climate. The Atlantic Forest, among the largest tropical forests in the world, has been degraded to only seven percent of its original size through such activities as coastal development, urban expansion, agriculture, ranching, exotic plantations and illegal logging.
"Our Plant a Billion Trees program is critical to restoring the Atlantic Forest and so far we have already planted 1.5 million trees," said Amy Golden, acting chief marketing membership & philanthropy officer for The Nature Conservancy. "This partnership with Payless is unique to our effort and is a first-of-its-kind for our organization to join with a mainstream retailer. We are thrilled to team up with Payless with its wide-reaching store chain, its engaged store associates and loyal customer base to work together for our cause and to help restore this important tropical forest."
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