The Woodland Trust has pledged to help companies "lock up" carbon after new figures revealed that businesses are responsible for 15 per cent of overall emissions.

A major publicity stunt was held in London on 4 June to mark the start of the Great Carbon Lock Up Campaign, which is designed to outline the importance of trees in absorbing carbon dioxide. According to the new research, companies emit 95.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide out of an overall annual figure of 628 million tonnes - 2 per cent of which is locked up by woodland.

The trust is now bidding to increase the amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed by trees by creating new areas of native woodland across the UK and is inviting businesses to help. Woodland Trust carbon manager Dr Nick Atkinson said: "Creating woodland is a great way for companies to help lock up their emissions, demonstrating their green credentials and improving the environment at the same time.

"By planting 23,000 hectares - twice the size of Manchester - of new woodland a year for the next 40 years and at the same time meeting the 80 per cent emissions reduction to which the government is already committed, we can increase the country's trees and woods carbon abatement potential to some 10 per cent of the total."