Carrylift's Steven Routledge says the Woodland Trust agreement has given the company a competitive edge in the marketplace.

UK-based Carrylift is the first large-scale partner in Woodland Trust's new carbon scheme, which will see the forklift company planting thousands of trees to absorb CO2 emissions from all of its new Nissan LPG forklifts.

Under the five-year agreement, Carrylift has committed to mitigating the lifetime emissions of its trucks by creating 105 acres (42.5 hectares) of woodland.

Steven Routledge, Carrylift Group sales director, says the partnership is already having a positive impact on the company's order books.

"The Woodland Carbon scheme has given Carrylift a competitive advantage within the marketplace and the uniqueness of the carbon capture element of our product has already brought in new business via a large-scale order," Routledge says.

The Woodland Carbon scheme officially launched last month helps UK businesses meet their carbon offset targets and simultaneously increases native woodland coverage in the UK.

According to The Woodland Trust, native woodland will play a key role in adapting to climate change by creating wildlife habitats, aiding flood alleviation and offering wind protection. The conservation charity aims to double the coverage of native woodland in the UK from its current 4%.

The Woodland Trust says the 21.6 acres (8.7 hectares) of woodland being created by the Carrylift partnership will eventually lock up at least 3,400 tonnes of CO2.

"The trees planted by this partnership will not only add great beauty to the natural spaces enjoyed by local communities but also provide multiple additional benefits, including the creation of valuable wildlife habitats and reduced flooding," says Woodland Trust CEO Sue Holden.

Established in 1988, the Carrylift Group, headquartered in Skelmersdale and operating from eight centres, is part of the Nissan forklift dealer network.