Axalta Coating Systems has officially launched Phase II of its ‘Axalta Forest’ program in China, in collaboration with the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF). This marks the second year of its support to the Mother River Protection project, which will see 15 hectares (approximately 37 acres) of new forest planted in Uxin Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia to counter desertification and help water conservation.

On the day of the Phase II launch, Luke Lu, President of Axalta’s Greater China Operations, planted the first trees of the Axalta Forest, along with a team of employee volunteers. Lu stated, “We are delighted to be supporting the program for a second year, and to contribute to the essential ecological restoration work in Uxin Banner. At Axalta, sustainability is central to virtually everything we do as a coatings company. We have a longstanding commitment to encouraging innovations that make our operations, and the products and application systems we provide to our customers increasingly environmentally responsible.”

Lu added, “Axalta and our employees are also enthusiastic in helping the community in which we live and work. As such, we have contributed to a number of initiatives that promote environmental protection and natural resource conservation globally.”

Last year, Axalta committed to donating one million RMB to support CYDF for the Mother River Protection program. The donation is used to plant the ‘Axalta Forest’, with seven hectares (approximately 17 acres) of new trees having already been planted in the project’s first phase in Zhangjiakou city, Hubei Province.

Uxin Banner, located in the southernmost part of Inner Mongolia, has been chosen for the accelerated Phase II, which will see twice as many trees planted as the first phase. More than 80% of Uxin Banner is impacted by wind erosion and desertification, and addressing these challenges calls for a concerted effort. The Youth League Committee of Uxin Banner will support the maintenance of the ‘Axalta Forest’, which has been designated as a base for environmental education for local teenage students.

Axalta employees, along with a local environmental expert, also organized a class about environmental conservation at a local school on the same day. An ‘Axalta Reading Corner’ was set up at the school which was supported by books and computers donated by Axalta and its employees in China.

CYDF Deputy Secretary General, Yang Chunlei, said, "We are pleased to continue our cooperation with Axalta for this critical social initiative. Soil erosion and environmental degradation have major impacts on the lives of everyone. We hope more companies like Axalta can join us to take this important project even further so that, together, we can make China greener."

As a major supplier of industrial coatings operating in 130 countries around the world, Axalta makes protecting and conserving natural resources a corporate priority. Axalta is committed to engaging sustainable manufacturing and practices, and to providing environmentally responsible products and application systems to our customers around the world, helping them save energy and reduce CO2 and VOC emissions.

Recently, Axalta teamed up with Ducks Unlimited, a world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, pledging to support a five-year wetland conservation project.