Around 80 percent of millennials and 60 percent of Gen Z consumers cite sustainability as a driving factor behind their purchasing decisions. So, as a business owner, how can you show that your company takes active measures to combat climate change?

Corporate tree planting can be a powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable business practices. This will help you attract eco-conscious customers, and of course, contribute to a greener environment.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at corporate tree planting and why it could be important for your business. We’ll also show you how to implement this initiative into your corporate strategy. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to Corporate Tree Planting

Corporate tree planting is ideal for businesses that want to take responsibility for their environmental impact. It’s also a powerful way to prioritize sustainability, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s corporate world.

But what are the environmental benefits of planting more trees?

Well, it purifies the air thanks to the release of oxygen. Trees also suck up carbon dioxide and store it in places like the soil, plant matter, and wood. Therefore, planting more of them helps reduce carbon emissions and contributes to a healthier planet.

Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere also helps combat climate change. As a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide traps heat, causing global temperatures to rise.

There are also benefits for the wider ecosystem since trees provide habitat for many species of plants and animals. Corporate tree planting schemes can counter the impact of deforestation, which roughly accounts for 10 percent of global warming. 

Why Is Tree Planting Important for Businesses?

So far, we’ve discussed the benefits of corporate tree planting for the environment. However, there are also various advantages for your business.

Sustainable products have previously been considered a niche within the marketplace. However, an increasing number of consumers are becoming aware of the impact that their buying decisions can have on the environment.

In fact, the Conscious Consumer Spending Index reported an all-time high in 2023:

Therefore, corporate tree planting is an excellent way to align your brand with sustainable practices and appeal to environmentally-conscious individuals.

You’ll also want to consider the growing concern about global warming. Did you know that 86 percent of people across the globe perceive climate change as a threat?

You might find an even bigger incentive to position your business on the side of environmental welfare if you serve markets that feel particularly strongly about the cause. For example:

• 89 percent of Indonesian consumers prefer brands that reflect their personal values. 
• Around 60 percent of Gen Z consumers and millennials buy from brands that share their values.

With this in mind, you can leverage corporate tree planting as a marketing channel, similar to loyalty/referral programs.

Rather than awarding badges or points for every new order or signup, you could plant a tree instead. This can be an effective motivator for customers to make a purchase:

A corporate tree-planting strategy can give you a competitive edge when attracting top talent.

Such initiatives can be as enticing as product discounts, free gym memberships, and other employee perks. More than this, it can make your business stand out when candidates are fielding numerous job offers that provide similar benefits.

Tree planting can be a powerful contributor to retaining key employees. If team members feel strongly about the environment, your brand will be held in good stead.

You might also like to leverage tree planting within staff reward schemes to recognize valuable contributions or reward top performers. You could take this a step further by holding regular tree planting days/events.

Team members may be given leave from work to get their hands dirty on dedicated volunteer days. Or, why not turn it into an entire business outing? This has the bonus of fostering teamwork and boosting morale.

How to Implement Tree Planting into Your Corporate Strategy

If you’re interested in corporate tree planting, you might wish to set up your own program. But the simplest solution is to join existing initiatives and collaborate with experts.

At TreeLift, we offer a range of ways to promote sustainability within your corporate environmental strategy. For instance, you might want to plant trees for each employee hired, or for each new order.

With a TreeLift subscription, you can facilitate the planting of 14 trees per month for each employee right from the comfort of your own home.

As for your customers, you can position the initiative as a marketing tool, in the same way you’d use loyalty programs or referral schemes. Rather than offering badges or points, you can leverage the planting of more trees.

Once you’ve set up a TreeLift account, you can decide how many trees you’d like to plant. Members get access to their virtual forest where they can see the impact of their efforts and watch the plantation flourish over time.

Conclusion

Corporate tree planting reaps major benefits for the environment. It helps reduce carbon emissions, promotes biodiversity, and combats climate change. 

With this green initiative, you can appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers. It may also help you bolster your brand reputation and give your business a competitive edge when attracting and retaining top talent.

Are you ready to implement corporate tree planting into your environmental strategy? TreeLift’s subscription service supports the planting of 14 trees per month for each employee or customer. You can also track progress over time in your own virtual forest. Get started today!

Featured image credit: Unsplash.