With so much in the world that needs fixing, many consumers now expect businesses to show leadership by incorporating environmental activities into their business models. Reforestation is one example that has been in the spotlight as a climate change solution for some time now — and it’s great to see trees getting the attention they deserve. This article looks at why trees are important and how businesses can help.
Why trees are important
Planting trees is a simple action that can make a real difference. It helps the environment by restoring forests and protecting biodiversity. There are economic benefits too: over 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods.
By planting trees, we can help restore and preserve the intricate ecosystem that thrives in a healthy and diverse forest environment. Planting trees also contributes to reducing carbon dioxide levels and combating climate change.
Trees don’t just have an environmental impact: they also have a social impact. In addition to providing jobs, trees provide nutritious food for people and animals, and a sustainable source of timber for house building. Trees also provide important health benefits: not only do forests provide ingredients used by the pharmaceutical industry, trees and green spaces offer proven mental health benefits.
How and why businesses can help
Planting trees isn’t just beneficial for the environment; it is beneficial to businesses too. In a 2020 survey by the Capgemini Research Institute, nearly two-thirds of senior executives said sustainability initiatives boost revenue.
Surveyed businesses also enjoyed an average 77% increase in customer loyalty, a 69% increase in brand value, and a 63% increase in total revenue. At one time, sustainable products formed a tiny part of the market and lacked consumer appeal. Times have changed. Today, a growing number of consumers are environmentally aware and understand the impact their buying decisions have on the environment.
This increasing awareness is having a big impact on business: socially responsible spending is growing rapidly. The latest Conscious Consumer Spending Index (CCSIndex) benchmarking study produced byGood.Must.Grow showed a record high in 2023 of 57, surpassing the previous high of 51.
The index also found that 71% of consumers felt it was important to support socially responsible brands, 66% said they had purchased socially responsible products and services over the past year, and 42% reported plans to spend more with socially responsible companies in 2024. These trends represent a real breakthrough for socially responsible spending and the business benefits this generates.
"We’ve been waiting for a breakthrough, or more aptly a tipping point, with conscious consumerism, and we may be on the precipice of it with this year’s results,” said Heath Shackleford, founder of Good. Must.Grow. "This movement seems to be clicking with consumers at a quickening pace.”
It is clear that, when it comes to sustainable living, a major shift is happening: businesses can and must play a key role in ensuring this continues by achieving sustainable development goals. In an ever-changing climate, we all have a responsibility to take care of the planet. There are many reasons to plant trees, but the conclusion is clear: your business can make a powerful environmental impact by supporting reforestation.
Learn more about how your business can support reforestation and help grow a greener future at onetreeplanted.org/business
About the author
Meaghan Weeden
Massachusetts, USA
Meaghan Weeden is the Senior Communications Manager at One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees.
With a background in communications and an education in Environmental Conservation, Meaghan is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment. In her role at One Tree Planted, she supports partnerships, and provides the internal team with brand guidance and project management. She also manages a robust digital content calendar, ensuring delivery of consistent quality written content that informs donors and leverages research to optimize impact.
