Press Release 25th October 2023

Vienna gets a Stöpselwald: Waldquelle and PENNY plant 200 new trees in Vienna's Hernals district

The 4th Stöpselwald is taking root in the Schottenwald in Vienna. Over 200 young trees were planted here yesterday morning. This was made possible by the Austria-wide collection campaign by Waldquelle and PENNY. Since mid-March (until mid-November), beverage caps have been collected, recycled and reused in over 300 PENNY stores. Pupils in all federal states have also been busy collecting, and the winners have already been chosen. Taking part in the joint tree planting on Tuesday morning were: Vítězslav Staněk, Managing Director of Waldquelle Mineralwasser, PENNY Austria Managing Director Kai Pataky, forester Stefan Jeitler, pupils from Musik-Mittelschule Dietrichgasse accompanied by teacher Werner Staudinger and employees from Waldquelle and PENNY.

Vítězslav Staněk, Managing Director of Waldquelle Mineralwasser and Kai Pataky, Managing Director of PENNY Austria (from left to right) / Copyright: © Michael Fraller, Abdruck zu redaktionellen Zwecken honorarfrei, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

Download

Every recycled beverage cap counts when it comes to protecting nature and combating climate change. This was the motto behind the joint pioneering project "Stöpselwald" by Waldquelle Mineralwasser and PENNY Austria. Under the guidance and expertise of Stefan Jeitler, forester of Vienna's Schottenwald forest, around 200 trees have now been planted in Vienna's Schottenwald forest. The hard-working pupils of MS Dietrichgasse, who had already shown great commitment to the collection campaign, were also involved. As a result, part of the forest area was reforested within one morning. "We are planting sessile oaks today to supplement the existing forest and make it climate-friendly," says Stefan Jeitler.

Together for a functioning circular economy

The 200 new trees in Vienna's Schottenwald forest are just a small part of the Austria-wide collection project with which PENNY and Waldquelle are reaffirming their responsibility for nature and the environment. Raising awareness of sustainability will continue to be a focus in the future. "We are delighted that our joint collection initiative was so well received by our PENNY customers, especially the schoolchildren. The best way to take sustainable steps is to work together, as demonstrated by our collaboration with schools and our long-standing partner Waldquelle," says Kai Pataky, Managing Director of PENNY Austria.

Vítězslav Staněk, Managing Director of Waldquelle Mineralwasser, also knows how important the cycle of trees, nature and water is: "We are aware of the great responsibility we bear for the environment. Together with PENNY, Stefan Jeitler and the pupils of MS Dietrichgasse, we are making another important contribution with 200 new trees. I am very pleased that we have motivated so many consumers and schoolchildren with the 'Stöpselwald' project for a functioning circular economy and have now been able to ensure a little more nature in Austria as a thank you."

Beverage cap becomes tree

This is how the Stöpselwald works: the beverage caps are taken directly from the PENNY stores to the recycling plant. The raw material is processed and prepared for reuse. The net proceeds from the raw material sold are used to finance trees that are planted by trained foresters and pupils from participating schools.

The project was made possible not least thanks to the motivation of pupils and teachers to collect: "We started collecting plugs at our school a year ago. We are all the more proud to emerge from the project today as winners for Vienna and to plant a forest together for our pupils and see the result of our work," says Werner Staudinger, the main teacher responsible for the project at MS Dietrichgasse.

Further links: