ADR and Lagardère Travel Retail Italia present the new tree-planting project under the banner of environmental sustainability

Fiumicino, April 23, 2024 – Today marked the presentation of the tree-planting project for the “Tommaso Forti” Park in Fiumicino. The initiative, promoted by Aeroporti di Roma and Lagardère Travel Retail Italia with the technical support of Etifor and WOWnature, has involved, since last March, the planting of around 100 new native trees, including linden, maple, hackberry, and ash trees. This represents the first stage in the renovation of the park, carried out for the benefit of the local community.

The inauguration was attended by Deputy Mayor Giovanna Onorati and Councillor for the Environment Stefano Costa on behalf of the Municipality of Fiumicino, as well as Marilena Blasi, Chief Commercial Officer of Aeroporti di Roma, Sergio Berlenghi, Head of Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement, and Alberto Niero, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. They illustrated how this initiative is a tangible demonstration of the commitment of both companies—together with the local administration—to environmental sustainability and to the local area and its citizens.

The project is part of a broader program launched in 2021 by Aeroporti di Roma, which manages the Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, and Lagardère Travel Retail, a global leader in Duty Free & Fashion, Food Service & Travel Essentials. Both companies have long been committed to progressively replacing plastic shopping bags, sold in certain Lagardère Travel Retail Italia stores inside the two Roman airports, with paper or reusable bags.

In order to make a tangible contribution to enhancing the areas in which they operate, ADR and Lagardère Travel Retail Italia have chosen to invest in reforestation, tree planting, and environmental redevelopment. Together with the municipalities of Fiumicino and Ciampino, they have identified two suitable areas for redevelopment projects aimed at creating spaces accessible to citizens while also promoting biodiversity and nature conservation.

The project’s technical partner is Etifor, a B Corp and spin-off of the University of Padua, specializing in the enhancement of natural capital and environmental consulting. With a scientific approach, Etifor carries out reforestation and forest protection initiatives through its WOWnature program. This project addresses the need to create a green barrier of tall trees along the entire perimeter of the park bordering high-traffic roads, helping reduce fine particulate matter and noise pollution. Inside the park, clusters of trees will also mitigate summer heat by providing shaded areas.

In addition to tree planting, the initiative also included targeted restoration of other parts of the park, such as the garden’s landscape design, the preservation of its identity, and the creation of renewed recreational spaces. Soon, as the project concludes, Aeroporti di Roma will deliver 10 picnic sets, which will subsequently be installed by the Municipality. Together with the newly planted trees, these will enhance the park’s usability for the many citizens and children who already enjoy it every day.