The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) proudly celebrates the season launch of its Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees (TICCIT) program, a hands-on environmental education initiative that continues to grow in reach and impact across North America.
Developed by PPC in 2010, TICCIT teaches school-aged children about the renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging while helping them understand the essential role trees play in our ecosystem. Each year, PPC member companies bring the program into classrooms and communities, guiding students through interactive lessons and tree-planting activities that demonstrate the circular lifecycle of paper-based products.
Every year, PPC members reach thousands of students across the country, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to sustainability education and community engagement. Since its launch, the TICCIT program has helped students plant over 150,000 trees across North America.
A key milestone for the program this year is PPC’s new partnership with Neighborhood Forest, a mission-driven nonprofit organization that provides free trees to children every Earth Day. Through this collaboration, TICCIT participants receive 6–12-inch native or fruit-bearing saplings, helping connect students directly with nature while reinforcing the message that trees are a renewable resource.
“Programs like TICCIT show how our industry can make sustainability tangible for the next generation,” said Emily Leonczyk, President of the Paperboard Packaging Council. “By partnering with organizations like Neighborhood Forest and engaging students through hands-on learning, our members are helping young people understand the role renewable materials play in a circular economy.
“The TICCIT program ignites a moment of discovery and opens the door to a bigger story about how paperboard packaging is made, why renewable materials matter, and the many creative, technical, and business careers that make it all possible. It also allows our member companies to connect with their local communities in a meaningful way. We hope experiences like this inspire students to see packaging not only as an environmental solution, but also as a field filled with exciting opportunities.”
What makes the TICCIT program especially impactful is the way PPC member companies bring it to life in their own communities. PPC provides the program framework, resources, and guidance to members at no cost, allowing packaging converters to shape each experience to reflect their local community and team culture. Over time, TICCIT has become a meaningful community engagement and team-building opportunity that employees look forward to year after year. From classroom presentations to interactive activities, the creativity of PPC members continues to expand what the program can be.
Through TICCIT, students learn that trees are a renewable resource, much like fruits and vegetables, and explore how paperboard packaging is produced, recycled, and responsibly returned to the environment. The program’s message of Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees, memorably comes to life for students. Each child receives a tree sapling packaged in a paperboard carton produced by one of the participating member companies. Students take the sapling home and plant it with their families, turning a classroom lesson into a hands-on experience that continues beyond the school day.
This simple but powerful activity helps students see circularity in action. The same renewable material used to make the carton that protects products on store shelves is also part of the cycle of growing new trees for the future. By planting their saplings at home, students share the story with their families and communities, creating a lasting connection between sustainable packaging, responsible forestry, and everyday life.
Packaging manufacturers interested in bringing TICCIT to their communities are encouraged to start by reaching out to the PPC to learn more about the program. The first step is identifying an ambassador within your company who is excited to champion the effort and help lead the experience locally. From there, the PPC team provides guidance, resources, and connections to fellow members who have hosted successful events and are eager to share ideas and best practices.
Partnering with Neighborhood Forest also allows PPC and its members to expand the reach and impact of the TICCIT program. By working with an organization dedicated to connecting children with nature, PPC can help make access to tree saplings easier and more scalable for participating converters. The collaboration simplifies the process for member companies to host events while ensuring students receive healthy, regionally appropriate trees to plant at home. Together, PPC and Neighborhood Forest are helping more communities experience the powerful lesson at the heart of TICCIT: that renewable materials and responsible forestry create a cycle where trees truly become cartons and cartons can help grow new trees.
Join PPC members in reaching more students by visiting https://ticcit.info.
