It’s become clear that we need to make a change for the health of our planet —
and fast. While reshaping government
policy
is a necessary component of this transformation, its timeline is long. It can
take years for ideas to translate into policy, for policy to take effect, and
for real change to occur as a result. When it comes to policy around climate
change,
we simply don’t have the luxury of time.
As we petition and
protest
and support our earth-championing representatives, there’s more we can do to
combat climate change: take action in the business sector. Companies can dictate
their own policies and priorities, allowing them to effect change at a much
faster rate than federal agencies. Plus, brands act in response to their
customer base; if their customers value
sustainability,
companies will listen and act accordingly.
Many forward-thinking brands have gotten the message — they’re taking the future
of our planet into their own hands through partnerships with environmental
nonprofits and sustainable business practices.
Win-win partnerships
Around the world, mission-driven organizations are gaining momentum and making
positive environmental changes, often through partnerships with other companies
and nonprofit organizations. As a result, nonprofits get sizable contributions
and businesses get an opportunity to give back and make themselves known as a
vehicle for progress.
One of the major ways businesses can contribute to environmental efforts is by
planting
trees.
According to a recent
report,
if we can plant one trillion trees around the world, we could reduce carbon
emissions up to 25 percent.
One Tree Planted, a nonprofit committed to
reforestation around the world, offers a corporate social responsibility
program that
allows businesses to do just that: Every dollar a business donates plants one
tree; the company can either choose the location of their future forests — in
the US or around the world — or they can hand the reins to the experts and fund
the planting of trees wherever they’re needed most.
By partnering with One Tree Planted, many brands are funding these
reforestation
efforts.
In addition to their tree-planting dollars, several are folding environmentally
friendlier practices right into their business model. This marriage of nonprofit
contributions and sustainable products and services creates a long-term system
for businesses to contribute to a cleaner environment, and engage their
customers along the way.
From planting to products
Image credit: One Tree Planted
Brands in every corner of the market are getting creative about reducing and
repurposing waste. Handcrafted footwear brand Twisted X
has launched a line of eco-friendly
shoes crafted from plastic
bottles, preventing bottles from ending up in landfills and in our oceans; and
for every pair sold, Twisted X plants a tree with One Tree Planted. So far the
company has funded the planting of trees in Oregon as part of the One Tree
Planted Orca Project, as
well as in California and Colorado. It has also designated that trees be
planted wherever they are needed.
Another One Tree Planted CSR partner is Insight
Vacations,
a member of The Travel Corporation. Insight Vacations
encourages customers to choose electronic documents over paper options. For
every customer who opts to receive their travel documents electronically,
Insight contributes to forest fire
restoration in northern
California, a process that regenerates lost growth and helps prevent future
fires. Insight also plants trees in Australia and India.
Meanwhile, House of Marley takes environmental
responsibility to the next level, baking it right into its business model and
products. Using recycled and sustainable materials such as bamboo,
recycled plastic, FSC-certified wood and wood composite, and reclaimed
fabric, the company uses mindfully sourced materials every step of the way. It
also supports global reforestation projects to make an even bigger environmental
impact. All of these initiatives help connect their brand to Bob Marley’s
ethos of a united planet and people.
In addition to these initiatives, many businesses are taking it a step further,
actually bringing their teams outdoors to plant trees and have a personal
experience of giving back close to where they live and work. The photo above is
from a One Tree Planted reforestation event in Montreal, where half a dozen
local businesses came out to volunteer.
Technology for trees
As businesses contribute to reforestation through donations, products and
practices, another nonprofit is making waves in technology.
XPRIZE has been supporting industry-changing
technology for 15 years by holding competitions that reward the most innovative
solutions to global issues. For each contest, XPRIZE presents a prompt aimed at
solving a global question or crisis. The winning solution gets a
multimillion-dollar prize to bring the idea to life and contribute to the issue
at hand.
A recent initiative, called the Future of Forests Impact
Roadmap, identified 6 areas in which
innovative technology would make a significant impact in reforestation efforts.
One of the 6 ideas selected presents a way to enhance photosynthesis, boosting
crop yield while reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and the water needed
to disperse them. Another winning idea offers a way to source organic materials
(such as wood) without killing the source.
With sustainable business practices, nonprofit engagement and technological
innovation all backed by passionate, environmentally conscious people, we stand
a chance of actually planting the one trillion trees that could change the face
of our planet.
Get involved by supporting One Tree Planted CSR business partners.
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Diana Chaplin is the Marketing Director at One Tree Planted, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to reforest our planet, and provide education, awareness, and engagement on the importance of trees.
Published Oct 25, 2019 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST