Corporate Citizen Friends Launch Initiative to Create 'Dust-Free Classroom Forest'

- On the 28th, Donation of Companion Trees to Create Classroom Forests in Gwangyang Elementary Schools
- Over 400 Companion Trees Grown for One Month Delivered to Gwangyang Gwangyeong Elementary School and Others

[Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] ‘Corporate Citizen Friends,’ a social contribution activity involving POSCO Group partner companies and POSCO employees, held a ‘Companion Tree Delivery Ceremony for Creating Dust-Free Classroom Forests’ at Gwangyeong Elementary School in Gwangyang on the 28th.

This delivery ceremony is part of the ‘Forest Creation Project,’ which Corporate Citizen Friends launched for the first time this year with the theme of carbon neutrality.

Partner companies and POSCO employees purchased about 1,000 companion trees in June and nurtured them for one month. Among these, about 400 trees were delivered to Gwangyeong Elementary School and Yonggang Elementary School in Gwangyang.

The donated companion plants include table palms, coffee trees, and green ivy, which are air-purifying plants selected by NASA. They are known to reduce fine dust and harmful substances, purify the air, and provide natural humidification.

The event was held with the participation of partner companies involved in Corporate Citizen Friends, officials from Gwangyeong Elementary School in Gwangyang, and POSCO employees.

Sim Sangryong, CEO of Hanatech, a company participating in Corporate Citizen Friends, said, “Through this activity, we think it is meaningful to improve the educational environment of local elementary schools and at the same time contribute to carbon neutrality.”

Baek Geumsuk, principal of Gwangyeong Elementary School, responded, “Through the creation of classroom forests, children can find emotional stability and, furthermore, have an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the environment.”

Corporate Citizen Friends will match one seedling for each companion tree nurtured this time and plant them in the wildfire-affected areas of Gangwon Province in October to help restore forests.

Meanwhile, POSCO and Corporate Citizen Friends are operating the ‘Eco Challenge,’ which practices and certifies carbon reduction activities through the mobile application ‘POAB.’ In September, they plan to expand the ‘Good Prepayment’ campaign by visiting local stores participating in providing free meals to children in need and making prepayments.

Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr