Independent papermaker Tullis Russell have recently announced that in cooperation with local community councils, its soon-to-be-formed charitable status joint company has received financial support from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to help build a ground breaking Eco-Education Centre at the site in Markinch. The CCF will provide a grant of  £497k to add to the £350k already committed to the project by the Russell Trust and by Tullis Russell itself. The company is also providing the land and maintenance for the proposed building, culminating in a total project value of around £1m.

The Eco-Education Centre will be built and operated to the highest standards of environmental construction and will provide a resource for schools, community groups and others to learn about sustainability issues which have become a key driver of Tullis Russell's product offering in both domestic and international markets. The facility will house a series of interactive displays as well as providing information on environmental issues designed to provide visitors with practical advice on how to reduce their own carbon footprints.

Tullis Russell marketing director Malcolm Sinclair commented: "The announcement of the funding support is fantastic news for everyone involved with the project and for our local community. The plan to build an eco- education centre stemmed from the company's desire to mark our 200th anniversary by giving something back to the community which we have supported and which has supported us over that time. Having considered many alternative plans, we hit on the idea of the Eco-Education Centre. The Russell Trust, which still owns around 25% of the company, donates its dividends to educational and charitable projects while the company's strategy is based on setting ourselves apart through the environmental credentials of our products and processes. Thus, the plan ticked all the right boxes. Very importantly, we also wanted it to be truly a community resource and decided to link up with local Community Councils to develop the project. It will also links directly with the development of our own major plans to help combat climate change as we continue to progress the project to construct a £200m biomass CHP plant on our site in conjunction with our partners npower Cogen who will own and operate the plant. It will reduce the company's fossil fuel carbon emissions by 250,000 tonnes per year and contribute more than 6% of Scotland's renewable generation targets. As we celebrate 200 years of history it is incredibly exciting to be involved in two such significant projects which focus so clearly on the future."

Issued on behalf of Tullis Russell by smarts. Further information from Fergus Reid at smarts on 0141 - 222 2040/07971 583 535 fergus.reid@smarts.co.uk; Rebecca Charles 0131 555 0425 rebecca.charles@smarts.co.uk