Short for “Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees,” TICCIT gives companies all the resources they need to hold fun, hands-on educational events at local elementary schools. A highly customizable program, the TICCIT curriculum contains both lecture-based and hands-on components. PPC members and nonmembers alike were encouraged to use the free, downloadable presentation (available at paperbox.org/TICCIT) that covers a variety of topics such as identifying the age of a tree, how trees help us breathe by producing oxygen, the papermaking process, and paper’s recyclability.
 
Through PPC’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, participating companies also purchased tree saplings for the students. During their events, students planted their saplings in paperboard cartons filled with soil. The TICCIT presentation shows them that the cartons provide protection and a natural water funnel for the new trees, and that as the trees grow, the cartons will biodegrade and complete the "trees into cartons, cartons into trees" cycle.
 
This year, participating PPC members included Accord Carton Co., American Carton Co., Baumer hhs Corp., Clearwater Paper Corp., Diamond Packaging, Frankston Packaging Co., Graphic Packaging International, Indiana Carton Co., Metsä Board, River Valley Paper Co., Sandusky Packaging Corp., Southern Champion Tray, Tavo Packaging, Thoro Packaging, Wikoff Color Corp., and WSI Global.
 
“TICCIT 2017 was a great success,” said Ben Markens, PPC president. “Thanks to PPC’s dedicated and community-focused membership, there are 15,785 more life-giving trees in the world. And 15,785 more young people who now know more about the sustainability and recyclability of paper!”
 
PPC staff and members located near PPC’s headquarters in Springfield, Mass. also took part in TICCIT festivities with a tree planting ceremony on Arbor Day at Springfield’s Forest Park. PPC donated five unique, living trees to the park’s arboretum collection. In attendance at the planting were several local school children, Springfield’s mayor Domenic Sarno, city forester Ed Casey, as well as PPC staff. PPC members in attendance included Graphic Packaging International, Keystone Paper & Box Co., and Northstar Pulp & Paper Co.