Punch strengthens eco drive with train ticketing tie-up

As part of Punch’s commitment to reducing its impact on people and the planet through ambitious targets, underpinned by its ‘Doing Well by Doing Good’ programme, Train Hugger is the first platform of its kind in the UK that will help the pubco on its journey to net zero.

Each time a train booking is made by Punch, Train Hugger provides travel and emissions data for reporting purposes and plants a climate-resilient tree in the UK through a partnership with the Royal Forestry Society.

Train Hugger’s mission is to restore the British countryside, with a third of its revenue going to UK environmental causes.

Innovative ways​

Punch, which operates about 1,300 pubs in the UK, is already promoting Train Hugger to its employees, publicans, management partners and customers.

Punch Pubs & Co chief executive Clive Chesser said: “We are always looking at innovative ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and that includes the most efficient way to travel.

“We encourage car sharing where feasible while the majority of our new company cars are fully electric.

“It’s fantastic to have partnered with the team at Train Hugger, which also has sustainability at the heart of its offering and make you feel good about travelling.”

Creating forests​

Train Hugger chief executive Edmund Caldecott added: “We’re over the moon to be partnering with Punch Pubs & Co.

“By buying their train tickets through Train Hugger, employees will be creating Punch Pubs forests all over the land. Employees have already put oaks, rowans and grey willows into the ground. We’re really excited by the potential of this partnership.”

Punch recently teamed up with the Eden Project​ to increase the biodiversity in its pub gardens.