In honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, Southern Champion Tray donated native tree saplings to over 400 students in the Chattanooga area as part of the Paperboard Packaging Council’s TICCIT Program (“Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees”), an educational program that highlights the renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging. 

Employees of Southern Champion Tray led interactive presentations and discussions with students at Grace Academy, McConnell, Nolan, Normal Park, Signal Mountain Christian and Thrasher Elementary.  Students learned how paper is made, why trees are important to earth’s life cycle, and the importance of recycling.  Students at each school were encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences with recycling.  The students engaged in conversations, expressing concern for our environment and an interest in sustainable products. 

After each presentation, students were given cartons to decorate and, with the help of SCT employees, fill with soil to plant their native saplings, creating a “carton-and-tree unit.”   The carton provides protection for the roots and acts as a natural water funnel for the new trees.  As the tree grows the cartons biodegrade and complete the “trees into cartons, cartons into trees” cycle. 

Now in its 82nd year, PPC is the leading industry association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging. PPC works to grow, promote, and protect the paperboard packaging industry while providing its members with resources and tools to compete effectively and successfully in the marketplace. For more information, call 413.686-9191 or visit www.ppcnet.org.

PPC’s TICCIT program (pronounced “Ticket”), which stands for Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees," is an annual event held in honor of Earth Day, Arbor Day, and as part of National Paperboard Packaging Week.   Paper and packaging companies partner with schools from local communities throughout the U.S. and Canada to teach the natural renewability and sustainability of paperboard packaging as well as the benefits of recycling.  Each company also donates either tree seeds or native saplings to the school.  In 2011, over 8,400 trees were planted.  For more information visit http://www.ppcnet.org/ticcit . 

Southern Champion Tray, LP, is a privately held 3rd generation family business with 85 years of experience in the paperboard packaging industry. Southern Champion Tray’s Corporate Office and Plant is located in Chattanooga, along with a separate Distribution Center for warehousing and shipping, in addition to a Plant located in Mansfield, Texas manufacturing only Customized Paperboard Packaging.  SCT is currently headed by John Zeiser, president and CEO, and by Bruce Zeiser, vice president. Their father, Mr. Chuck Zeiser, continues to be involved in the business and serves as chairman of the Board.

Students planting a tree.
- Photo2 by Mark Longnecker